When Ivy visited Alan, he was watching TV.

dido4

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Joined
Dec 23, 2005
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When Ivy visited Alan, he was watching TV.
1. Can I change the sentence into:

When Alan was watching TV, Ivy visited him.

2. Do they have the same meaning? Is the second correct?

Thank you.
 
I think there is a difference in focus. The first was on Ivy while the second was on Alan. Both are possible.
 
When Ivy visited Alan, he was watching TV.

1. Can I change the sentence into the following?
When Alan was watching TV, Ivy visited him.

2. Do they have the same meaning?
3. Is the second correct?

Thank you.
I don't find that natural at all. You could perhaps say "While Alan was watching TV, Ivy arrived for a visit".
 

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