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Anonymous Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
Past Simple?
Hello there,
I have a question about past tenses.
My friend moved to Spain in 1995. He came back to England in 1997. He has lived in England ever since.
What do I say?
1. He lived there for two years. He lived there from 1995 to 1997.
2. He was living there for two years. He was living there from 1995 to 1997.
Which one would sound more natural?
Thanks a lot.
I have a question about past tenses.
My friend moved to Spain in 1995. He came back to England in 1997. He has lived in England ever since.
What do I say?
1. He lived there for two years. He lived there from 1995 to 1997.
2. He was living there for two years. He was living there from 1995 to 1997.
Which one would sound more natural?
Thanks a lot.
Top answer
#1 sounds more natural. "
- #1 sounds more natural.
- "
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2 Answers
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#1 sounds more natural.
The exception would be wanting to talk about something that happened in 1995 or 1996, like "He was living there from 1995 to 1997, when [some major event happened that makes his being there at that time significant]."
The exception would be wanting to talk about something that happened in 1995 or 1996, like "He was living there from 1995 to 1997, when [some major event happened that makes his being there at that time significant]."
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I see it the same as GG. But I want to add a little.
It seems unnatural to add for two years when you say He was living there.
It's more natural to my ear to add just a when clause instead: He was living there when the disaster of 1996 occurred.
If you just say He was living there and stop, it will seem incomplete. Somebody will sa
It seems unnatural to add for two years when you say He was living there.
It's more natural to my ear to add just a when clause instead: He was living there when the disaster of 1996 occurred.
If you just say He was living there and stop, it will seem incomplete. Somebody will sa
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