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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Repeated actions

Hi, I read that when talking about present it is possible to use either present simple or continuous to express something that we do regularly, e.g. At 8.00 I am usually driving my children to school. And it is also possible to say At 8.00 I usually drive my children to school.

I would like to ask you whether I can use both past simple and continuous when I want to express a similar meaning in the past, e.g. At 8.00 I usually drove my children to school. At 8.00 I was usually driving my children to school.

Thank you
  

Top answer

In these cases, the continuous is usually used as "background" information. I didn't hear the news report because at 8:00 I was driving my noisy kids to school. [completed, possibly repeated] I don't hear the morning news because at 8:00 I'm driving my noisy kids to school.

— Philip

  • In these cases, the continuous is usually used as "background" information.
  • I didn't hear the news report because at 8:00 I was driving my noisy kids to school.
  • [completed, possibly repeated] I don't hear the morning news because at 8:00 I'm driving my noisy kids to school.
  • [repeated action]
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1 Answers
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In these cases, the continuous is usually used as "background" information.

I didn't hear the news report because at 8:00 I was driving my noisy kids to school. [completed, possibly repeated]

I don't hear the morning news because at 8:00 I'm driving my noisy kids to school. [repeated action]
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