16. When you _____ (call), I ____(sleep).

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

First, let's restate the task to ensure we understand what is being asked: fill in the blanks in the sentence '16. When you _____ (call), I ____(sleep).' using standard English verb tenses.
Option A: 'was calling, slept' — This pairing uses the past continuous (was calling) with the simple past (slept). This creates an odd mismatch in tense with the second verb not aligning with the ongoing action implied by 'When you...'. Generally, if the first action is interrupted by another action in the past, we expect continuous past for the first and past progressive for the second to reflect ongoing simultaneous actions.
Option B: 'was calling, was sleeping' — Here both verbs are in the past continuous. This is acceptable when two actions were happening simultaneously in the past. However, in the standard sentence structure with a when-clause and a main clause, the typical pairing uses the past continuous for the first clause and the past simple for the interruption, not the past continuous for both.
Option C: 'were calling, sleeping' — This mixes the past continuous in a plural subject form with a bare 'sleeping' (a participial gerund form) without a helping verb, which is ungrammatical in standard English for a complete predicate.
Option D: 'called, was sleeping' — This uses the simple past 'called' in the when-clause and the past continuous 'was sleeping' in the main clause. This combination correctly indicates that the call happened, and during that time I was in the process of sleeping, aligning with standard usage for time-within-a-p story structure.
Option E: 'called, slept' — This pairs simple past with another simple past, which can be acceptable in some contexts, but it conveys a sequence of events rather than an interruption of sleeping by a call. The more natural, contrasting action (sleep interrupted by the call) is better captured by the past continuous in the main clause.
In summary, evaluating natural English usage and standard grammar for a when-clause paired with a main clause describing an ongoing background activity, the most accurate and natural choice is Option D: 'called, was sleeping'. It correctly models a past event ('you called') occurring during the period I was sleeping, using the appropriate tense pairing for a time-interruption scenario.

Therefore, the correct option is the one that uses the simple past in the when-clause and the past continuous in the main clause, i.e., 'called, was sleeping'.

Writing & Language Seminar I - Martinez - Preparatory Academy - 1st Semester - 2025/2026 FOGChpt2_3- Requires Respondus LockDown Browser

16. When you _ (call), I (sleep).

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Writing & Language Seminar I - Martinez - Preparatory Academy - 1st Semester - 2025/2026 FOGChpt2_3- Requires Respondus LockDown Browser

16. When you _____ (call), I ____(sleep).

View Explanation

Log in for full answers

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