Complete the sentences with while or when. 1. We were playing basketball ___ it began to rain. 2. The dog was barking ___ we were sleeping. 3. I was watching TV ___ she called. 4. ___ the phone rang, she was writing a letter. 5. ___ we were having the picnic, it started to rain. 6. What were you doing ___ the earthquake started? 7. You were not listening to me ___ I told you to turn the oven off. 8. ___ John was sleeping last night, someone stole his car. 9. I was just getting into the bath ___ the telephone rang. 10. Were you listening ___ he was talking? 11. ___ Ellen was reading, Tim was watching television. 12. ___ she came home from school she really didn't look well.

Правильные ответы:

1. We were playing basketball when it began to rain.

2. The dog was barking while we were sleeping.

3. I was watching TV when she called.

4. When the phone rang, she was writing a letter.

5. While we were having the picnic, it started to rain.

6. What were you doing when the earthquake started?

7. You were not listening to me when I told you to turn the oven off.

8. While John was sleeping last night, someone stole his car.

9. I was just getting into the bath when the telephone rang.

10. Were you listening while he was talking?

11. While Ellen was reading, Tim was watching television.

12. When she came home from school she really didn't look well.

Объяснение правила

Чтобы правильно выполнить упражнение, нужно понимать разницу между while и when.

• WHEN — переводится как «когда». Используется преимущественно для обозначения момента, в который произошло какое-либо событие. Часто после него употребляется Past Simple.

• WHILE — переводится как «пока», «в то время как». Используется, когда два действия происходят одновременно или одно действие продолжается во время другого. Часто после него употребляется Past Continuous.

Разберём несколько примеров:

1. We were playing basketball when it began to rain.

Мы играли в баскетбол, когда начался дождь. Игра продолжалась, а дождь начался в определённый момент. Поэтому используется when.

2. The dog was barking while we were sleeping.

Собака лаяла, пока мы спали. Оба действия происходили одновременно. Поэтому используется while.

3. While Ellen was reading, Tim was watching television.

Пока Эллен читала, Тим смотрел телевизор. Два продолжительных действия происходили одновременно, поэтому используется while.

Главное, что нужно запомнить:

• WHEN + Past Simple — когда произошло какое-то событие.

• WHILE + Past Continuous — пока происходило продолжительное действие.

Это основное правило, которое поможет правильно выбирать между while и when в подобных упражнениях.