When/while/as

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CalifJim

#175378 Wed, 28 Dec 05 01:59 AM

What is the difference between these three: 1- "While I washed the dishes, Mary cleaned the stove." 2- While I was washing the dishes, Mary was cleaning the stove. (actually I know this, two spontaneous activities) 3- When I washed the dishes, Mary cleaned the stove. (I know this too, first I washed the dishes, then Mary cleaned the stove) What I don't understand is 1. and its difference with 2 and 3?

The first two mean almost exactly the same thing. The second version just emphasizes activities in progress a bit more. The third would probably not be used much. More likely it would be something like the following.

When Mary noticed that I had washed the dishes, she felt guilty and cleaned the stove.

Or,
When I washed the dishes, I noticed a crack in the kitchen window.

Or, the original could be expressing a past habit.
Present habit: [When / Whenever] I wash the dishes, Mary cleans the stove. (The two activities are always done in parallel.)
Past habit: [When / Whenever] I washed the dishes, Mary cleaned the stove. (Again, activities in parallel as a habit.) Also expressed as: Whenever I would wash the dishes, Mary would clean the stove.

CJ

CalifJim

Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004

California

Veteran Member (17,790)

"There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche

Difference Between

Anonymous

#175531 Wed, 28 Dec 05 03:18 PM

Thank you very much indeed, Jim.

Anonymous

Diamondrg

#175533 Wed, 28 Dec 05 03:21 PM

Thank you very much indeed, Jim.

Diamondrg

Joined on Fri, Dec 2 2005

Turkey

Contributing Member (1,043)

Teo

#195171 Fri, 10 Feb 06 07:11 PM

CalifJim wrote:
Regarding "when I was studying" vs. "while I was studying" (in the context shown):

Compare:

When I was studying astronomy at the University of Timbuktu, quasars had not yet been discovered.

While I was studying astronomy last night, an eclipse of the moon was going on outside my window.

"while" in the first sentence or "when" in the second would be poorer choices.

1. When I was studying astronomy at the University of Timbuktu, quasars had not yet been discovered.

We prefer when to refer to ages and periods of life, so while is a poorer choice in #1.

2. While I was studying astronomy last night, an eclipse of the moon was going on outside my window.
We usually use while, not when, to refer to simultaneous long action, so when is a poorer choice in #2.

3. While/When I was studying astronomy last night, the door burst open.

We can use when or while to introduce a longer background action.

Teo

Joined on Tue, Sep 28 2004

Taiwan

Contributing Member (1,631)

Thank you very much for your reply.

Universities

Teo

#195182 Fri, 10 Feb 06 07:26 PM

CalifJim wrote:
after while only stative verbs like "sit" can be used in the past simple tense?

Yes, that sounds like a reasonable generalization.

Nevertheless, dynamic verbs might be used after "while", but they would then have to be interpretable in a non-event sort of way. This pattern occurs with activities:

While I washed the dishes, Mary cleaned the stove.
= While I was washing the dishes, Mary was cleaning the stove.
= While Mary cleaned the stove, I washed the dishes.
= While Mary was cleaning the stove, I was washing the dishes.

The activities proceeded in parallel. "to wash dishes" can be an event, but in these sentences, it is an activity, not an event.

CJ

1.The band was playing while I was waiting.

2.The band was playing while I waited.

3.She was reading while he was writing.

4.She was reading while he wrote.

The above sentences all seem acceptable.

Teo

Verbs, Tenses, Stative Verbs, Past Simple, Dynamic Verbs

Goodman

#195213 Fri, 10 Feb 06 09:04 PM

Diamondrg wrote:

can you answer these?

1- ---- I was studying American history in grammar school he and I would study together.

   B) When

2- Grasping some willow branches on a little island, Ruth held the canoe in place ---- I studied my topographic map and pondered whether to begin the crossing.

B) While

3- Mildred Cherubin Dear Diary: ---- I was sitting in my ophthalmologist's examining room, my cellphone suddenly rang.

B) While

4- ---- I sat down in a Trump Tower conference room one afternoon earlier this year with Allen Weisselberg, the Trump Organization's chief financial officer, he claimed that Donald was worth about $6 billion.

B) When

5- One Sunday afternoon a month later ---- I was sitting by my window, I noticed a person lowering himself from the roof to the fire escape of the opposite building.

B) While

6- ---- I sat at the edge of the sweltering, itchy playground last summer, parents descended the hill again and again to thank me, to thank Lee, for this chance, for this experience, not only for their children to learn baseball but also for their children to play baseball in a sandlot pickup, walking-distance, motley neighborhood game at least once in their lives.

   B) While

I could be wrong but it seems to me that "while" is is used for situations where 2 event are overlapped. Ex: Mary can study while listneing to her I-pod.

When - is used in situations where one event takes place as another begins to happen. Ex: I was having a cup of coffee at the cafe by my self when I saw Mary waving at me across the street.

Like to hear you opinions ....