Introduction & Warm-up
Today's Objectives
Interrupting Actions
Use when + past simple to interrupt past continuous
Parallel Actions
Use while + past continuous for simultaneous events
Action Timeline Warm-up
Click to hear action combinations:
Structure & Rules
Why Combine These Tenses?
Real life stories often have background activities that get interrupted by sudden events. This combination makes your English sound natural!
Interrupting Actions with WHEN
Use Past Continuous for the longer background action and Past Simple for the shorter interrupting action.
| Pattern | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| When + Interruption | Past Continuous + when + Past Simple | I was sleeping when the alarm rang |
| When + Background | When + Past Simple + Past Continuous | When she called, I was cooking |
Parallel Actions with WHILE
Use while when two actions were happening at the same time.
| Pattern | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Both Continuous | While + Past Continuous, Past Continuous | While I was studying, she was watching TV |
| Mixed Actions | While + Past Continuous, Past Simple | While we were talking, the doorbell rang |
Time Expression Comparison
WHEN (Interruption)
WHILE (Duration)
Common Interrupting Events
Quick Decision Guide
Long, ongoing activity → Past Continuous
Short, sudden event → Past Simple
Two activities at same time → While + both Past Continuous
Role-Play Scenarios
The Day Everything Changed - News Interview
Scenario: Dramatic Event Interview
A news reporter is interviewing someone about a significant event that happened while they were going about their normal day, using the contrast between ongoing activities and sudden events.
Sentence Starters for Dramatic Events
When Interruptions Happen
Parallel Activities
Sequence of Events
Workplace Emergency - Office Fire Drill
Scenario: Recounting Emergency Procedures
You're explaining to a colleague what happened during an unexpected fire drill at work, describing both planned activities and the sudden interruption.
Sentence Starters for Work Interruptions
Work Activities
Emergency Responses
Observations
Practice Tip: Click on any dialogue line to hear the pronunciation. Practice telling stories with when/while to show the relationship between background activities and sudden events. Remember: long action = past continuous, short action = past simple!
Practice
Real-Life Interruptions Practice
Describe what was happening when sudden events occurred!
What were you doing when something unexpected happened?
Practice describing interrupted actions from dramatic situations
Dramatic Scenarios
1. Storm: When the storm hit
"I was driving home when the heavy rain started"
"We were having a picnic when the wind suddenly picked up"
2. Accident: When you saw an accident
"I was walking my dog when I heard screeching tires"
"We were waiting at the bus stop when two cars collided"
3. Surprise: When you got surprising news
"I was checking my email when I saw the job offer"
"We were discussing vacation plans when we won the trip"
4. Technology: When your device failed
"I was giving an online presentation when my internet cut out"
"I was about to save my work when the computer crashed"
Interrupted Actions
Dramatic Event Phrases
What were different people doing at the same time?
Describe parallel actions happening simultaneously
Simultaneous Scenarios
1. Family Morning: What everyone was doing
"I was making breakfast while my kids were getting dressed"
"My husband was showering while I was packing lunches"
2. Office: Activities during a meeting
"The manager was presenting while some people were taking notes"
"I was listening carefully while my colleague was checking his phone"
3. Public Place: Activities at a park
"Children were playing while parents were watching them"
"Some people were jogging while others were having picnics"
4. Emergency: During an evacuation
"Some people were running while others were helping"
"The alarm was ringing while everyone was exiting"
Simultaneous Actions
Parallel Action Phrases
Practice Tip: Remember to use past continuous (was/were + verb+ing) for longer background actions and past simple for completed actions or interruptions. For simultaneous actions, use "while" to connect two past continuous actions.
Quiz
Yesterday I _____ very tired, but today I _____ much better.
Compare how you felt yesterday and today.
When I was young, I _____ play soccer every day. Now I _____ tennis instead.
Talk about past habits vs. current activities.
I _____ my homework right now, but I _____ to the movies later.
Current action and future plan.
While she _____ dinner, the phone _____.
Two past actions - one ongoing, one sudden.
Tomorrow at this time, I _____ on a plane to Paris. I _____ so excited!
Future continuous action and current feeling.
Mastery Achieved: You can now confidently use the past simple and past continuous together to describe ongoing actions, interruptions, and simultaneous events in the past. Next, you'll learn how to use "used to" and "would" for past habits and repeated actions!