Which event happened first? Some rules for you.

A. I opened my umbrella when I left my house.

1. Left house
2. Opened umbrella

RULE: Two events in the simple past, the when-event happened first.




B. When Eric woke up this morning, I had already run five miles.

1. Holly ran 5 miles
2. Eric woke up.

RULE: Two events in the past, one is past perfect; the past perfect event happened first.

C. I was talking with my mother when the thunder roared outside.

1. Talking with mother
2. Thunder roared

RULE: Two events in the past, one in the past progressive and one in the simple past; the progressive event happened first.