SIMPLE PAST AND PAST PROGRESSIVE CLAUSES We can

We can use Simple Past and Past Progressive in ONE SENTENCE. My sister was

The position of the CLAUSES can be swapped. Look: My sister was cooking when

When and while introduce the dependent clause. Liz fell on the ground while she

Another example When the alarm went off, she was making breakfast. OR DEPENDENT CLAUSE

When the dependent clause begins the sentence, a comma (, ) is added at

Often, while goes with PAST PROGRESSIVE and when with SIMPLE PAST. Liz fell on

What event occurs first? My sister was cooking when she heard about the accident

In a sentence with two clauses, one of them in SIMPLE PAST and the

Another example When the alarm went off, she was making breakfast. NOW PAST x

In a sentence with two clauses, both of them in SIMPLE PAST, the DEPENDENT

Another example It started to rain when we went inside. NOW PAST x We

In a sentence with two clauses, both of them in PAST PROGRESSIVE, both events

Even though Focus on Grammar 4 states that when goes with simple past and

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SIMPLE PAST AND PAST PROGRESSIVE CLAUSES

We can use Simple Past and Past Progressive in ONE SENTENCE. My sister was cooking when she heard about the accident in the news. PAST PROGRESSIVE SIMPLE PAST As you see, the first part of the sentence is an INDEPENDENT CLAUSE. My sister was cooking And the second part of the sentence is a DEPENDENT CLAUSE. when she heard about the accident in the news.

The position of the CLAUSES can be swapped. Look: My sister was cooking when she heard about the accident in the news. OR When my sister heard about the accident in the news, she was cooking.

When and while introduce the dependent clause. Liz fell on the ground while she was exercising. OR DEPENDENT CLAUSE While Liz was exercising, she fell on the ground.

Another example When the alarm went off, she was making breakfast. OR DEPENDENT CLAUSE She was making breakfast when the alarm went off.

When the dependent clause begins the sentence, a comma (, ) is added at the end of this clause. While I was walking home, I found a ten dollar note. DEPENDENT CLAUSE NOTICE THE COMMA. I found a ten dollar note while I was walking home. NO COMMA THIS TIME. DEPENDENT CLAUSE

Often, while goes with PAST PROGRESSIVE and when with SIMPLE PAST. Liz fell on the ground while she was exercising. PAST PROGRESSIVE When the alarm went off, she was making breakfast. SIMPLE PAST

What event occurs first? My sister was cooking when she heard about the accident in the news. NOW PAST x My sister started cooking. x She heard the news. And if I change the order of the clauses, does it change the order of the events? When my sister heard about the accident in the news, she was cooking. NO, IT DOESN’T.

In a sentence with two clauses, one of them in SIMPLE PAST and the other in PAST PROGRESSIVE, the clause in PAST PROGRESSIVE expresses the first event. I found a ten dollar note while I was walking home. NOW PAST x I was walking home x I found the ten dollar note PAST PROGRESSIVE

Another example When the alarm went off, she was making breakfast. NOW PAST x She was making Breakfast. x The alarm went off. PAST PROGRESSIVE

In a sentence with two clauses, both of them in SIMPLE PAST, the DEPENDENT CLAUSE expresses the first event. When the mailman arrived, I opened the door. NOW DEPENDENT CLAUSE PAST x The mailman arrived. x I opened the door.

Another example It started to rain when we went inside. NOW PAST x We went inside. x It started to rain. DEPENDENT CLAUSE

In a sentence with two clauses, both of them in PAST PROGRESSIVE, both events occurred at the same time. Robert was driving the car while his wife was answering the call. NOW PAST Robert was driving the car. His wife was answering the phone.

Even though Focus on Grammar 4 states that when goes with simple past and while with past progressive, native speakers often use when with both simple past and past progressive. They don't normally use while with simple past. I assume the writers of the book present the use of when and while this way to facilitate students' comprehension.