spoke vs. speaking

[Rickyrocky]

HI,

"When we were speaking on the phone, I thought you were chinese."
vs.
"When we spoke on the phone, I thought you were chinese."

Which sentence is correct?

[RudnyBR]

Both sentences are correct there, but they differ in meaning.

"When we were speaking on the phone, I thought you were chinese."
It means that you were listening to him/her in the phone call and at the same time THOUGHT he/she was Chinese.

"When we spoke on the phone, I thought you were chinese."
It means the phone call has already ended, you talked to each other in the past, the phone call is over and probably after that you thought that person was Chinese.

One more thing: you use capital letters to begin words such as Chinese, Spanish, Mexican, American... and so on.
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[Rickyrocky]

Thanks for the detailed explanation. ;)

[E2e4]

While we were speaking on the phone, I thought you were Chinese.
As we spoke on the phone, I thought you were Chinese.

[Beeesneees]

I don't think the difference is as pronounced or clear cut as has been indicated.

"When we were speaking on the phone, I thought you were chinese.": - past progressive
While the phone call went on, I thought you were Chinese. (You may or may not be Chinese, but the likelihood is that it turned out you weren't.)

"When we spoke on the phone, I thought you were Chinese." - simple past
At the time that the phone call was made I thought you were Chinese (You may be or may not be Chinese).

E2 - in your sentences there is mor of an implication that you only thought the person was Chinese for the duration of the phone call, which wouldn't usually make sense.

Neither form indicates that you didn't start thinking the person was Chinese until after the call ended.
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Cheers m' dears!

[Rickyrocky]

Thanks BN.

[RudnyBR]

Complicated question.
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Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart.