hold held holding

Question

I often discuss myself few ongoing topics, politics precisely as a part of communication.The other day I was watching a news channel.that was a fierce debate on a rape case.A Newspaper editor was accused of raping his colleague.One lady,in the process of defending the victim said that "the accused raped the victim when they were in the lift"
I said to myself was she there in the lift when he(accused) held her(Victim's) hand?

I know we can also say "that when he was holding her hand", but I got this doubt.Is it correct?
Please clarify it.

Meteorquake · Accepted Answer

"when he was holding her hand" is fine

'held' is an action (completed, start to end), 'was holding' is a state (in the midst of something)

d

Ivanhr · Answer

meteorquakewas holding' is a state (in the midst of something)

It's an action, not a state. Verbs that can be used in the progressive tense are called action verbs.

Anonymous · Answer

so is it correct or not to use whether he held her hand?

Meteorquake · Answer

Dear Ivanhr,

'held' is an action [in the meaning of something having been done] (completed, start to end)

'was holding' is a state [in the meaning of a state of acting] (in the midst of something)

I hope that clarifies

'state' has a great many uses; the use is explained clearly by the explanations given in bold.

d

hold held holding

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