Past tenses

Question

Hello I would like to ask you whether both sentences are possible:This is the girl who taught me English. or This is the girl who was teaching me English.Thank you

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

Both are fine.  What concerns you about them?

Anonymous · Answer

I was not sure if both tenses can be used in this sentence. I thought only past simple was possible.

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousHello I would like to ask you whether both sentences are possible:This is the girl who taught me English. or This is the girl who was teaching me English.Thank you

Both are possible. The meanings are different.

"taught me English" is a finished accomplishment. At the end of this, you probably know English.

"was teaching me English" is an activity in the past. At the end of this, she simply stopped teaching you English, or you quit learning it from her, but in all likelihood, you don't know English yet. Your experience with English was only temporary.

............[!]........... taught me English (! indicates 'finished event'.)

...[ - - - - -]........... was teaching me English ( - - - indicates on-going activity.)

CJ

Past tenses

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