weren't playing vs didn't play
Did your team win the football match yesterday?
The weather was very bad, so we weren't playing.
vs
The weather was very bad, so we didn't play.
Is the first one not correct? Why is it?
tense past-tense past-simple idiomatic-language past-continuous
edited 1 hour ago
SamBC
10.4k1437
asked 1 hour ago
SergeySergey
211
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Sergey is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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add a comment |
Did your team win the football match yesterday?
The weather was very bad, so we weren't playing.
vs
The weather was very bad, so we didn't play.
Is the first one not correct? Why is it?
tense past-tense past-simple idiomatic-language past-continuous
edited 1 hour ago
SamBC
10.4k1437
asked 1 hour ago
SergeySergey
211
New contributor
Sergey is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
You've asked the identical question at EL&U. Unless they are different in some way, one or the other should be closed. (I know you were directed here—so I might close the EL&U question.)
– Jason Bassford
1 hour ago
I received a comment to answer my question in this webpage!
– Sergey
1 hour ago
add a comment |
Did your team win the football match yesterday?
The weather was very bad, so we weren't playing.
vs
The weather was very bad, so we didn't play.
Is the first one not correct? Why is it?
tense past-tense past-simple idiomatic-language past-continuous
edited 1 hour ago
SamBC
10.4k1437
asked 1 hour ago
SergeySergey
211
New contributor
Sergey is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Did your team win the football match yesterday?
The weather was very bad, so we weren't playing.
vs
The weather was very bad, so we didn't play.
Is the first one not correct? Why is it?
tense past-tense past-simple idiomatic-language past-continuous
tense past-tense past-simple idiomatic-language past-continuous
edited 1 hour ago
SamBC
10.4k1437
asked 1 hour ago
SergeySergey
211
New contributor
Sergey is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 1 hour ago
SamBC
10.4k1437
asked 1 hour ago
SergeySergey
211
New contributor
Sergey is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
edited 1 hour ago
SamBC
10.4k1437
edited 1 hour ago
SamBC
10.4k1437
edited 1 hour ago
SamBC
10.4k1437
10.4k1437
asked 1 hour ago
SergeySergey
211
New contributor
Sergey is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 1 hour ago
SergeySergey
211
asked 1 hour ago
SergeySergey
211
211
New contributor
Sergey is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
Sergey is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Sergey is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
You've asked the identical question at EL&U. Unless they are different in some way, one or the other should be closed. (I know you were directed here—so I might close the EL&U question.)
– Jason Bassford
1 hour ago
I received a comment to answer my question in this webpage!
– Sergey
1 hour ago
add a comment |
You've asked the identical question at EL&U. Unless they are different in some way, one or the other should be closed. (I know you were directed here—so I might close the EL&U question.)
– Jason Bassford
1 hour ago
I received a comment to answer my question in this webpage!
– Sergey
1 hour ago
You've asked the identical question at EL&U. Unless they are different in some way, one or the other should be closed. (I know you were directed here—so I might close the EL&U question.)
– Jason Bassford
1 hour ago
You've asked the identical question at EL&U. Unless they are different in some way, one or the other should be closed. (I know you were directed here—so I might close the EL&U question.)
– Jason Bassford
1 hour ago
I received a comment to answer my question in this webpage!
– Sergey
1 hour ago
I received a comment to answer my question in this webpage!
– Sergey
1 hour ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
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Okay, so this is a very specific answer to a very specific question. In this specific case, where there are sports teams involved, there's actually a difference in how I, as a native speaker of British English, understand those terms.
We weren't playing.
This means that the team wasn't scheduled to play. So, in the case of the weather, you might say:
The weather was very bad, but we weren't playing anyway so it didn't really matter.
On the other hand, we have the meaning you want in the other option:
We didn't play.
That means that you didn't play. Playing was not done by you. For any reason, you didn't play. In certain contexts, it might have been that you were supposed to play but didn't, or it could mean you were never scheduled. Thus we get to your example sentence:
The weather was very bad, so we didn't play.
This means what you want - you were supposed to be playing, but the weather was bad so you didn't.
Now, the fact you have the so in the weren't playing example means that native speakers will understand what you meant. You've indicated a causal link between the two statements, and thus you must mean that you had been intending to play and then didn't. However, it's more idiomatic, in my experience, to use we didn't play in that situation.
I've no idea if this is unique to British English or not.
answered 1 hour ago
SamBCSamBC
10.4k1437
As an American, I agree that "...so we didn't play" is more idiomatic, and what I'd probably say.
– Mixolydian
1 hour ago
So, this example is more idiomatic than grammar question, is it?
– Sergey
1 hour ago
Sam BC, I understand what you mean, but I dont undesrtand how it is correlated with other examples. For example, Richard had a book in his hand but he wasnt reading it. He was watching TV. In this case Richard deceided to watch TV rather than reading, right?
– Sergey
1 hour ago
But if I use your logic in this sentence (reading was not done by Richard), I need to use Past Simple. Please, could you explain these differencies?
– Sergey
1 hour ago
1
Like I said, this is a very specific answer to your question. The answer to questions like this in English often depend on what you're talking about, and you'll get different answers depending on the activity and actors involved. So for any other activity than a game being cancelled, the answer can be different.
– SamBC
1 hour ago
|
show 2 more comments
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
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votes
Okay, so this is a very specific answer to a very specific question. In this specific case, where there are sports teams involved, there's actually a difference in how I, as a native speaker of British English, understand those terms.
We weren't playing.
This means that the team wasn't scheduled to play. So, in the case of the weather, you might say:
The weather was very bad, but we weren't playing anyway so it didn't really matter.
On the other hand, we have the meaning you want in the other option:
We didn't play.
That means that you didn't play. Playing was not done by you. For any reason, you didn't play. In certain contexts, it might have been that you were supposed to play but didn't, or it could mean you were never scheduled. Thus we get to your example sentence:
The weather was very bad, so we didn't play.
This means what you want - you were supposed to be playing, but the weather was bad so you didn't.
Now, the fact you have the so in the weren't playing example means that native speakers will understand what you meant. You've indicated a causal link between the two statements, and thus you must mean that you had been intending to play and then didn't. However, it's more idiomatic, in my experience, to use we didn't play in that situation.
I've no idea if this is unique to British English or not.
answered 1 hour ago
SamBCSamBC
10.4k1437
As an American, I agree that "...so we didn't play" is more idiomatic, and what I'd probably say.
– Mixolydian
1 hour ago
So, this example is more idiomatic than grammar question, is it?
– Sergey
1 hour ago
Sam BC, I understand what you mean, but I dont undesrtand how it is correlated with other examples. For example, Richard had a book in his hand but he wasnt reading it. He was watching TV. In this case Richard deceided to watch TV rather than reading, right?
– Sergey
1 hour ago
But if I use your logic in this sentence (reading was not done by Richard), I need to use Past Simple. Please, could you explain these differencies?
– Sergey
1 hour ago
1
Like I said, this is a very specific answer to your question. The answer to questions like this in English often depend on what you're talking about, and you'll get different answers depending on the activity and actors involved. So for any other activity than a game being cancelled, the answer can be different.
– SamBC
1 hour ago
|
show 2 more comments
Okay, so this is a very specific answer to a very specific question. In this specific case, where there are sports teams involved, there's actually a difference in how I, as a native speaker of British English, understand those terms.
We weren't playing.
This means that the team wasn't scheduled to play. So, in the case of the weather, you might say:
The weather was very bad, but we weren't playing anyway so it didn't really matter.
On the other hand, we have the meaning you want in the other option:
We didn't play.
That means that you didn't play. Playing was not done by you. For any reason, you didn't play. In certain contexts, it might have been that you were supposed to play but didn't, or it could mean you were never scheduled. Thus we get to your example sentence:
The weather was very bad, so we didn't play.
This means what you want - you were supposed to be playing, but the weather was bad so you didn't.
Now, the fact you have the so in the weren't playing example means that native speakers will understand what you meant. You've indicated a causal link between the two statements, and thus you must mean that you had been intending to play and then didn't. However, it's more idiomatic, in my experience, to use we didn't play in that situation.
I've no idea if this is unique to British English or not.
answered 1 hour ago
SamBCSamBC
10.4k1437
As an American, I agree that "...so we didn't play" is more idiomatic, and what I'd probably say.
– Mixolydian
1 hour ago
So, this example is more idiomatic than grammar question, is it?
– Sergey
1 hour ago
Sam BC, I understand what you mean, but I dont undesrtand how it is correlated with other examples. For example, Richard had a book in his hand but he wasnt reading it. He was watching TV. In this case Richard deceided to watch TV rather than reading, right?
– Sergey
1 hour ago
But if I use your logic in this sentence (reading was not done by Richard), I need to use Past Simple. Please, could you explain these differencies?
– Sergey
1 hour ago
1
Like I said, this is a very specific answer to your question. The answer to questions like this in English often depend on what you're talking about, and you'll get different answers depending on the activity and actors involved. So for any other activity than a game being cancelled, the answer can be different.
– SamBC
1 hour ago
|
show 2 more comments
Okay, so this is a very specific answer to a very specific question. In this specific case, where there are sports teams involved, there's actually a difference in how I, as a native speaker of British English, understand those terms.
We weren't playing.
This means that the team wasn't scheduled to play. So, in the case of the weather, you might say:
The weather was very bad, but we weren't playing anyway so it didn't really matter.
On the other hand, we have the meaning you want in the other option:
We didn't play.
That means that you didn't play. Playing was not done by you. For any reason, you didn't play. In certain contexts, it might have been that you were supposed to play but didn't, or it could mean you were never scheduled. Thus we get to your example sentence:
The weather was very bad, so we didn't play.
This means what you want - you were supposed to be playing, but the weather was bad so you didn't.
Now, the fact you have the so in the weren't playing example means that native speakers will understand what you meant. You've indicated a causal link between the two statements, and thus you must mean that you had been intending to play and then didn't. However, it's more idiomatic, in my experience, to use we didn't play in that situation.
I've no idea if this is unique to British English or not.
answered 1 hour ago
SamBCSamBC
10.4k1437
Okay, so this is a very specific answer to a very specific question. In this specific case, where there are sports teams involved, there's actually a difference in how I, as a native speaker of British English, understand those terms.
We weren't playing.
This means that the team wasn't scheduled to play. So, in the case of the weather, you might say:
The weather was very bad, but we weren't playing anyway so it didn't really matter.
On the other hand, we have the meaning you want in the other option:
We didn't play.
That means that you didn't play. Playing was not done by you. For any reason, you didn't play. In certain contexts, it might have been that you were supposed to play but didn't, or it could mean you were never scheduled. Thus we get to your example sentence:
The weather was very bad, so we didn't play.
This means what you want - you were supposed to be playing, but the weather was bad so you didn't.
Now, the fact you have the so in the weren't playing example means that native speakers will understand what you meant. You've indicated a causal link between the two statements, and thus you must mean that you had been intending to play and then didn't. However, it's more idiomatic, in my experience, to use we didn't play in that situation.
I've no idea if this is unique to British English or not.
answered 1 hour ago
SamBCSamBC
10.4k1437
answered 1 hour ago
SamBCSamBC
10.4k1437
answered 1 hour ago
SamBCSamBC
10.4k1437
answered 1 hour ago
SamBCSamBC
10.4k1437
10.4k1437
As an American, I agree that "...so we didn't play" is more idiomatic, and what I'd probably say.
– Mixolydian
1 hour ago
So, this example is more idiomatic than grammar question, is it?
– Sergey
1 hour ago
Sam BC, I understand what you mean, but I dont undesrtand how it is correlated with other examples. For example, Richard had a book in his hand but he wasnt reading it. He was watching TV. In this case Richard deceided to watch TV rather than reading, right?
– Sergey
1 hour ago
But if I use your logic in this sentence (reading was not done by Richard), I need to use Past Simple. Please, could you explain these differencies?
– Sergey
1 hour ago
1
Like I said, this is a very specific answer to your question. The answer to questions like this in English often depend on what you're talking about, and you'll get different answers depending on the activity and actors involved. So for any other activity than a game being cancelled, the answer can be different.
– SamBC
1 hour ago
|
show 2 more comments
As an American, I agree that "...so we didn't play" is more idiomatic, and what I'd probably say.
– Mixolydian
1 hour ago
So, this example is more idiomatic than grammar question, is it?
– Sergey
1 hour ago
Sam BC, I understand what you mean, but I dont undesrtand how it is correlated with other examples. For example, Richard had a book in his hand but he wasnt reading it. He was watching TV. In this case Richard deceided to watch TV rather than reading, right?
– Sergey
1 hour ago
But if I use your logic in this sentence (reading was not done by Richard), I need to use Past Simple. Please, could you explain these differencies?
– Sergey
1 hour ago
1
Like I said, this is a very specific answer to your question. The answer to questions like this in English often depend on what you're talking about, and you'll get different answers depending on the activity and actors involved. So for any other activity than a game being cancelled, the answer can be different.
– SamBC
1 hour ago
As an American, I agree that "...so we didn't play" is more idiomatic, and what I'd probably say.
– Mixolydian
1 hour ago
As an American, I agree that "...so we didn't play" is more idiomatic, and what I'd probably say.
– Mixolydian
1 hour ago
So, this example is more idiomatic than grammar question, is it?
– Sergey
1 hour ago
So, this example is more idiomatic than grammar question, is it?
– Sergey
1 hour ago
Sam BC, I understand what you mean, but I don
t undesrtand how it is correlated with other examples. For example, Richard had a book in his hand but he wasnt reading it. He was watching TV. In this case Richard deceided to watch TV rather than reading, right?– Sergey
1 hour ago
Sam BC, I understand what you mean, but I don
t undesrtand how it is correlated with other examples. For example, Richard had a book in his hand but he wasnt reading it. He was watching TV. In this case Richard deceided to watch TV rather than reading, right?– Sergey
1 hour ago
But if I use your logic in this sentence (reading was not done by Richard), I need to use Past Simple. Please, could you explain these differencies?
– Sergey
1 hour ago
But if I use your logic in this sentence (reading was not done by Richard), I need to use Past Simple. Please, could you explain these differencies?
– Sergey
1 hour ago
1
1
Like I said, this is a very specific answer to your question. The answer to questions like this in English often depend on what you're talking about, and you'll get different answers depending on the activity and actors involved. So for any other activity than a game being cancelled, the answer can be different.
– SamBC
1 hour ago
Like I said, this is a very specific answer to your question. The answer to questions like this in English often depend on what you're talking about, and you'll get different answers depending on the activity and actors involved. So for any other activity than a game being cancelled, the answer can be different.
– SamBC
1 hour ago
|
show 2 more comments
Sergey is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Sergey is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Sergey is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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You've asked the identical question at EL&U. Unless they are different in some way, one or the other should be closed. (I know you were directed here—so I might close the EL&U question.)
– Jason Bassford
1 hour ago
I received a comment to answer my question in this webpage!
– Sergey
1 hour ago