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gsjackie



Joined: 29 Oct 2007
Posts: 10
Location: Taiwan

PostPosted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 10:04 pm    Post subject: when Reply with quote

Dear teacher,
I get confused with the use of "when".
Please tell me which sentence is correct and why.
Thank you so much.

#1. My Net pal arrived when I had dinner with my family.
#2. My Net pal arrived when I was having dinner with my family.
#3. I had dinner with my family when my Net pal arrived.
#4. I had dinner with my family when my Net pal was arriving.
#5. I was having dinner with my family when my Net pal arrived.
#6. I was having dinner with my family when my Net pal was arriving
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grammy



Joined: 13 Feb 2009
Posts: 11

PostPosted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 11:10 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

ok, friend, first thing is ...you are using when too much, and you need to learn more grammar structures to help you understand why these sentences are wrong.

look....

#1. My Net pal arrived when I had dinner with my family.
wrong!

#2. My Net pal arrived when I was having dinner with my family.
right...but using while is better than when

#3. I had dinner with my family when my Net pal arrived.
wrong

#4. I had dinner with my family when my Net pal was arriving.

really wrong

#5. I was having dinner with my family when my Net pal arrived.

right

#6. I was having dinner with my family when my Net pal was arriving

wring.


most of the sentences here are not really about when but really about how to use narrative tenses. study up on comparing past continuous vs past simple and also past perfect.
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