When and While

While' is used to express two continuous actions happening at the same time.

Example:

While you were sleeping , I was doing the housework.

'When' is used to express an action that happened in the course of another action.

Example:

When we were in the city center , we went to nice restaurants.

'When' is used to express an action that happened immediately after another action.

Example:

When Joe shouted at Tina , she left him in the cafe and went away.

'While' or 'When' is used when a continuous long action is interrupted by a short action.

Example:

(while) I was doing homework , (when) my mother knocked at the door.

Complete the following task using ‘when’ or ‘while’

1. They were driving home _____________ they saw robbery.

2. _____________ Ted was eating lunch, his mobile phone rang.
3. Dave was waiting for the bus _____________ he saw his uncle
4. _____________ Ella was eating her lunch, she saw her cat
5. Barbara was finishing her homework_____________ teacher walked
6. Pete rang _____________ I was watching TV.
7. Jane was playing tennis _____________ it started to rain.
8. Jack was walking home _____________ the dog attacked him.
9. I fell down and broke my leg _____________ I was skiing.
10. __________ I was walking in the park, I met Joe.
Past Continuous
El "past continuous" describe acciones o eventos situados en un tiempo
anterior al presente, cuyo comienzo se sitúa en el pasado y que todavía no ha
concluido en el momento de hablar. Dicho de otro modo, expresa una acción
incompleta o inconclusa del pasado.
(subject + was/were verb + ing) longer activity
I / He / She = was We/You/They = were

Statement: I was working yesterday at 7 o’clock

Negation: I was not working yesterday at 7 o’clock
Question: Was I working yesterday at 7 o’clock

Past Simple ( subject + verb + -ed/II ) shorter activity

Statement: I worked yesterday I had dinner yesterday.

Negation: I did not work yesterday I did not have dinner yesterday.
Question: Did I work yesterday Did I have dinner yesterday.

WHEN -> Past Simple

WHILE -> Past Continuous

I was cooking the dinner WHEN the phone rang

WHILE I was reading a newspaper, my mobile phone rang.

Past Simple or Past Continuous

Irregular verbs = *

1. Jim __________ (cook) lunch when his mother __________ (call) on the phone.
2. His dog__________ (run*) into the kitchen while he __________ (talk) to her.
3. Tom __________ (eat*) his lunch when his brother __________ (arrive).
4. While Jim ___________(write*) a letter, his wife ___________ (take*) the dog for
a walk
5. Jim __________ (walk) with the dog when he __________ (find*) a coin.
6. The doorbell __________ (ring*) while he __________ (cook) dinner.
7. It __________ (not/work) when I __________ (start) to use it.
8. While Asia _____________ (shop), I __________ (go*) to the car wash.
9. I _____________(buy*) a magazine when I ___________ (see*) my old friend.
10. While I _____________ (play) computer games, my mother __________ (call) me
for dinner.