Verb Tense Promblem from Manhattan 5th SC

[jay871750293]

Hi, instructors~

A problem from "manhattan 5th SC P105" sorely confuses me after I finish reading Chapter 7.

In this page, one example are taken to illustrate the topic "Make Tenses Reflect Meaning"

EXAMPLE: She PLAYED with her friends when the babysitter ARRIVED.

In the analysis below the example, author mentions that "in this case, the action PLAYED took place after the babysitter ARRIVED".

Here is my problem: Is it possible that the two actions took place simultaneously? Because there are two related meaning of WHEN in the dictionary ( A, at or during the time that: I loved history when I was at school. B, after: Call me when you've finished. --- from Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary EDITION 6)

If my thought is wrong, could you please tell me how to distinguish between the first and second meaning of WHEN in a particular sentence? I am really puzzled about the VERB TENSE.

Thanks a lot~

[jlucero]

That's a great question, Jay. To me, the biggest difference between the two examples you gave is that the phrases that imply after all have a specific time: arrived or finished. On the other hand, when you say "was at school", this is a time frame and not an event. So when you say "I loved history when I was at school", you are saying this was true over a period of time.

[jay871750293]

That's a great question, Jay. To me, the biggest difference between the two examples you gave is that the phrases that imply after all have a specific time: arrived or finished. On the other hand, when you say "was at school", this is a time frame and not an event. So when you say "I loved history when I was at school", you are saying this was true over a period of time.

Your response gives me a great deal of enlightenment~

thanks a lot
jlucero~

[tim]

:)