A2

while + was V-ing, S + V2 · S + was V-ing + when + S + V2

when và while

Explanation

Việc DÀI làm nền thì dùng quá khứ tiếp diễn, việc NGẮN xen vào thì dùng quá khứ đơn. while thường đi với việc dài, when đi với việc ngắn. Bẫy thường gặp: Đổi hai thì cho nhau là đổi nghĩa: I cooked when he arrived nghĩa là anh ấy tới rồi tôi mới nấu, khác hẳn I was cooking when he arrived.

Examples

I was cooking when he arrived.

Tôi đang nấu ăn thì anh ấy tới.

While she was reading, the phone rang.

Trong lúc cô ấy đọc sách thì điện thoại reo.

They were playing football when it started to rain.

Họ đang đá bóng thì trời mưa.

Practice

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The grammar point “while + was V-ing, S + V2 · S + was V-ing + when + S + V2” (when và while) is one of the key structures at CEFR 2. To use it fluently, you need to understand the contexts where it's used and practice regularly.

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