Word
Pendant que nous étions en train de ranger les outils, Paul a demandé si nous avions encore besoin de la pelle et du râteau.
Meaning
While we were putting the tools away, Paul asked whether we still needed the shovel and the rake.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Lesson
Breakdown of Pendant que nous étions en train de ranger les outils, Paul a demandé si nous avions encore besoin de la pelle et du râteau.
Paul
Paul
et
and
nous
we
de
of
Questions & Answers about Pendant que nous étions en train de ranger les outils, Paul a demandé si nous avions encore besoin de la pelle et du râteau.
Why does the sentence use pendant que instead of just pendant?
Pendant que means while and must be followed by a clause with a verb: pendant que nous étions...
By contrast, pendant by itself is usually followed by a noun:
So here, because the next part contains a full action with a verb, pendant que is the correct choice.
Why does it say nous étions en train de ranger instead of simply nous rangions?
Both are possible, but être en train de + infinitive strongly emphasizes that an action was in progress.
So:
- nous rangions les outils = we were putting away the tools
- nous étions en train de ranger les outils = we were in the middle of putting away the tools
The version with en train de is a little more explicit and vivid. It highlights the ongoing nature of the action.
Why is étions in the imperfect tense?