Looked or was looking

Question

Howdy,Would you rather say looked or was looking in the following sentence? When Alex arrived at JFK airport she ___ (look) around but she didn't see anybody there to meet her.I'll be grateful for explaining me why.Thanks!

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

I would use "looked", because it is a one-time event in the past, delimited by 2 other simple past events - She arrived, she looked, and she didn't see.

Avangi · Answer

Words are tools. What are you trying to say? Did she give up? Did she conclude that she was going to have to switch to plan B? It's entirely up to you.
Simple past tense covers a lot of territory. If you wish to convey that she was looking around continuously for an unspecified period, I don't see why you shouldn't. Not doing something in the simple past doesn't pin you down a whole heckovalot.

Anglista2008 · Answer

so if I use the past cont., what will it change?

Avangi · Answer

It changes the limiting factor that she only looked once. I haven't travelled by air since the new restrictions have gone into effect. There may now be very few places where arriving passengers may be met.
In the old days, people could meet you as you first entered the terminal from the gangway (or whatever). They might be late, and spot you walking on your way to recover your baggage. Or they might be savy, and be waiting at the baggage carousel assigned to your flight.

She could have been looking continuously since she disembarked the plane. She could still be looking as she recovers her baggage and walks out to the street.

Actually, it would be more natural to say, "When she arrived, she started looking around." JFK is pretty big. If she hadn't been there before she well might be bewildered by trying to figure out where to look for the parties whom she was expecting to meet her.
Thank goodness cell phones now make those things easier.

Looked or was looking

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