Wat al aan de gang was

Voorbeelden

1. I was cooking when the phone rang.

   Ik was aan het koken toen de telefoon ging.

2. They were waiting outside for twenty minutes.

   Zij stonden twintig minuten buiten te wachten.

3. It was raining, so we took a taxi.

   Het regende, dus namen we een taxi.

4. What were you doing at eight o’clock?

   Wat was u om acht uur aan het doen?

Veelgemaakte fouten

• ✗Fout: I was cooking when the phone was ringing.

  ✓Goed: I was cooking when the phone rang.

  De lange handeling krijgt de continuous; de korte die haar onderbreekt krijgt de past simple.

• ✗Fout: While I cooked, the phone rang.

  ✓Goed: While I was cooking, the phone rang.

  Na while staat de achtergrondhandeling in de continuous.

• ✗Fout: I was knowing the answer.

  ✓Goed: I knew the answer.

  Toestandswerkwoorden als know, want en believe hebben geen continuous.

Oefenvragen

Probeer elke vraag eerst zelf en open dan „Toon antwoord” voor de oplossing en de reden.

1. 1Kies de juiste zin.

   1. AI was watching television when you called.
   2. BI watch television when you called.
   3. CI watched television when you called.
   4. DI was watching television when you were calling.
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: A I was watching television when you called.

   De achtergrondhandeling krijgt was/were + -ing; het telefoontje dat haar onderbreekt krijgt de past simple.

2. 2Kies de juiste zin.

   1. AWhile she was driving home, she saw the accident.
   2. BWhile she drove home, she was seeing the accident.
   3. CWhile she was driving home, she was seeing the accident.
   4. DWhile she is driving home, she saw the accident.
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: A While she was driving home, she saw the accident.

   Het zien was één moment; het rijden was de langere handeling eromheen.

3. 3Vul het gat in.

   At nine last night I _____ the ironing.

   1. Awas do
   2. Bwas doing
   3. Cdid do
   4. Dwere doing
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: B At nine last night I was doing the ironing.

   Op een genoemd moment in het verleden krijgt de lopende handeling was/were + -ing.

4. 4Vul het gat in.

   They _____ about the rent when I walked in.

   1. Awere argue
   2. Bare arguing
   3. Cwas arguing
   4. Dwere arguing
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: D They were arguing about the rent when I walked in.

   They krijgt were, en de ruzie was al bezig voordat ik binnenkwam.

5. 5Vul het gat in.

   I _____ the answer, so I said nothing.

   1. Anot knew
   2. Bwas not knowing
   3. Cwas not know
   4. Ddid not know
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: D I did not know the answer, so I said nothing.

   know is een toestandswerkwoord en heeft geen continuous.

6. 6Vul het gat in.

   While we _____ for the bus, it started to snow.

   1. Ahave waited
   2. Bwere waiting
   3. Cwas waiting
   4. Dwaited
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: B While we were waiting for the bus, it started to snow.

   while leidt de langere achtergrondhandeling in en krijgt dus de continuous.

7. 7Zet de woorden in de juiste volgorde.

   I was reading when the lights went out

   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: I was reading when the lights went out.

   Het lezen was bezig; het uitvallen van het licht is de ene gebeurtenis daarbinnen.

8. 8Zet de woorden in de juiste volgorde.

   What were you doing at six this morning

   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: What were you doing at six this morning?

   In een vraag komt were vóór het onderwerp en houdt het hoofdwerkwoord -ing.

9. 9Deze zin klopt niet. Kies de verbetering.

   Welke zin is fout?

   1. AI was wanting a coffee.
   2. BI wanted a coffee.
   3. CI was drinking my coffee.
   4. DI was making a coffee.
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: A I was wanting a coffee.

   want is een toestandswerkwoord: geen continuous.

10. 10Deze zin klopt niet. Kies de verbetering.

    Welke zin is fout?

    1. AI found your keys while I was cleaning.
    2. BWhile I was cleaning, I found your keys.
    3. CWhile I was cleaning, I was finding your keys.
    4. DI was cleaning when I found your keys.
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: C While I was cleaning, I was finding your keys.

    Iets vinden is één moment, geen achtergrondhandeling.