Torture for my students (I mean, "when" and "while" practise)

_____ my father was reading a book, my mother was looking at the family album.

• WHEN

• WHILE

Answer explanation

Here we have two simultaneous actions with Past Continuous, so we have to use "while".

I was having a shower, _____ my friend broke my mother's favourite vase.

• WHEN

• WHILE

Answer explanation

A continuous action (in Past Continuous) is interrupted by a short action (in Past Simple), so we put "when" before Past Simple.

______ I was having a shower, my friend broke my mother's favourite vase.

• When

• While

Answer explanation

On the other hand, if we want to put the particle before the interrupted action in Past Continuous, it can be either "while" or "when".

______ the teacher came into the classroom, some students were arguing with each other.

• WHEN

• WHILE

_____ I arrived home, all the guests were having tea and biscuits.

• WHEN

• WHILE

______ she was a little girl, she visited her relatives with her mother.

• WHEN

• WHILE

Answer explanation

As "to be" is a static verb, it should be put in Past Simple, even though we can say that it is a "long" action. Being a Past Simple, we use "when".

Sue was waiting for the 12 o'clock train, _____ she met an old friend.

• WHEN

• WHILE

______ the Pearsons were having a large breakfast, the doorbell rang.

• WHEN

• WHILE

______ my father was waiting in the car, my mother was doing shopping.

• WHEN

• WHILE

The electricity went off ____ I was watching a horror film.

• WHEN

• WHILE