Ss: While he was traveling in space, Yang spoke to two astronauts aboard the International Space Station.

T: You did a very good job. They are all sentences with adverbial clause of time and the conjunctions are when or while. We'll talk about them this class in order that you can use them correctly.

Step II Grammar 1

Task 1

First give the Ss several minutes to read the two sentences in Activity 1 on Page 44. Let them find out the answers individually. And then collect the answers.

T: Now turn to Page 44, read the first two sentences and answer the questions below. I'll give you three minutes.

Three minutes later.

T: Time's up. Who would like to answer the first question: Why are the tense different?

S1: Let me try. The first verb can last while the second verb cannot. I think that's because the second action happened during the first action was happening.

T: Yes. You are quite right. Exactly speaking, the first verb was continuing all the time and was interrupted by actions of short duration that are in the past simple. Who can give an example?

S2: While we were watching TV, the doorbell rang.

T: You have got the idea. Now the second question: Is one action longer than the other?

S3: The action in the clause is longer than the other. T: Yes. That's right. How about the third question: Did one action take place after the other?

S4: No. When the second action took place, the first action didn't finish.

T: Very good. They took place at the same time, although the second action started after the first one. Please make one more sentence, following the examples we talked about.

S5: When we were having the P.E. class, he broke his leg.

S6: While she was reading, Granny fell asleep.

T: OK, now let's come to another two sentences. This time you're to choose the correct