Korean Job Discussion Forums

[raewon]

I've got a question about the usage of "while".

While he walked along the street, he met his teacher.

I want to know if the simple past can be used with "while." I've always thought that it had to be the past progressive:

While he was walking along the street, he met his teacher.
(longer action = past progressive / interrupted action = past simple).

Michael Swan's Basic English Usage supports this, but he also states the following:

[some waygug-in]

I am no expert. *_^

My best guess is yes you can use it, depending on what you want to say.


While he walked along the street, he met his teacher.

Grammatically correct. The meaning is the same as if the progressive were used.

Some time during the past action of walking down the street, he met his teacher.

More typically though, it would probably used for a series of past actions as in:

While on vacation he played tennis, went swimming, visited friends and relaxed.

I suppose the grammar police will challenge me on this, but that's how I see it.

You can even use it this way:

While he walked down the street, he chewed gum.

Two continuous actions in the past.

Perhaps a writer could explain the difference between that and using the progressive. But I would never use the progressive in that case...

"while he was walking down the street, he was chewing gum."

sounds awkward to me.

Hope this helps.

[The Cosmic Hum]