I was sleeping when he came in vs I was asleep when he came in

Both phrases are correct, but convey slightly different meanings. 'I was sleeping when he came in' implies that sleeping was in progress when he entered, while 'I was asleep when he came in' suggests the state of being asleep existed when he entered. The choice between the two phrases depends on if you want to emphasize the ongoing action of sleeping or the state of being asleep at that moment.

Explained by Miss E.
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: December 07, 2024 • 9465 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"I was sleeping when he came in"

This phrase indicates that the action of sleeping was in progress when he entered.

Examples:

I was sleeping when he came in, so I didn't hear him enter.
She was sleeping when the phone rang.
Were you sleeping when the storm started?

Show examples from the web [+]
Last updated: November 20, 2024

Mar 3, 2006 ... “I was sleeping when he came in. I guessed he didn't notice you there or didn't give a damn, when I got up and that you were both there. You ...
Jun 29, 2024 ... Answer:I was sleeping when he came in.
Mar 4, 2012 ... "I was sleeping when he came in and threw acid on me...it took one second to ruin my life completely," says one of the women at the centre ...
... I was sleeping when he came in, and that my heater was on wayyyyy to high all winter (I would sweat even with my windows wide open in the middle of February) ...
Jun 7, 2023 ... ... I was sleeping when he came in. Shola glanced at me and chuckled at the look on my face. “Seems we're both caught red-handed. Why did you ...
I was sleeping when he came in. 4. Két párhuzamosan folyó, tartós cselekvés kifejezésére. While mother was cookind diner, father was reading. 5. Használható ...
I was sleeping when he came in, and he awakened me. Sitting on the edge of the bed, he began: “Mary, I have had a strange. Page 42. PROJECTING PRESENCE 27.
Sep 17, 2012 ... I was sleeping when he came in. On n'a pas toujours une subordonnée en when dans l'immédiat voisinage... Il faut bien voir que la différence ...

Alternatives:

I fell asleep when he came in.
I drifted off to sleep when he entered.
I was in the middle of sleeping when he arrived.

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"I was asleep when he came in"

This phrase indicates that the state of being asleep existed when he entered.

Examples:

I was asleep when he came in, so I didn't notice him.
She was already asleep when I got home.
Were you asleep when the movie ended?

Show examples from the web [+]
Last updated: November 20, 2024

Apr 18, 2023 ... I was asleep when he came in the bed and just out of habit put my arm around him. He took it as a green light to go from there and we ended ...
Nov 27, 2018 ... Pop-pop would kiss me on the forehead while I was asleep when he came in from working overnight at his security job. He has been dead for 12 ...
Sep 11, 2022 ... I was asleep when he came in, and he had to leave early this morning for that case.” You rolled one shoulder in a shrug. “I knew he was ...
Apr 8, 2010 ... I was asleep when he came in, but awake immediately. He did not accomplish anything, but remained in my bed about one hour, when Florida ...
Oct 25, 2023 ... “I'm just lucky I was asleep when he came in. He might have beat me up.” Roulack left behind his wet hospital gown in the man's home, along ...
Feb 7, 2020 ... I was asleep when he came in and he tapped me, and I woke up, kind of groggy, and he then unwrapped the Ace Bandage, was happy to see the ...
I was asleep when he came in and when I opened my eyes he was standing there with the hallway lights shinning on him, looking like my own personal superman ...
Sep 16, 2017 ... I was asleep when he came in and he tapped me, and I woke up, kind of groggy, and he then unwrapped the Ace Bandage, was happy to see the ...
Estaba dormido cuando me dio la paliza. I was asleep when he came in to give me the first beating.
May 11, 2021 ... I was asleep when he came in and he tapped me, and I woke up, kind of groggy, and he then unwrapped the Ace Bandage, was happy to see the ...

Alternatives:

I had fallen asleep when he entered.
I was already asleep when he came in.
I was in a deep sleep when he arrived.

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I was sleeping when he came in vs I was asleep when he came in

"I was sleeping when he came in"

"I was asleep when he came in"

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