Past Tenses – Difference Between ‘I Lived’ and ‘I Was Living’

past-continuouspast-simple

In 1999, I was living in Cuba.

In 1999, I lived in Cuba.

Do both sentences seem grammatically correct?

My teacher had told that the first sentence, which is with past continuous, is incorrect. I don't know whether or not the first sentence is correct. It indeed seems natural, doesn't it?

Best Answer

Both are grammatically correct but the usage depends on the context.

As you noted one is in past simple tense while the other in past continuous tense, and there is a difference between them in use.

In 1999, I lived in Cuba.

It means that you lived there not temporary (permanent).

as opposed to

In 1999, I was living in Cuba.

It means that you lived there temporary (not permanent).

So, maybe your teacher meant to say that it is not correct to use both for the same period of living there.

Sources and further reading:

  1. Cambridge dictionary: She lives Vs. She's living.
  2. Use 7: Temporary Situations in the Past
  3. Notes/Present_vs_Progressive_vs_Past
  4. past-continuous-use.
  5. Past Tenses in English.
  6. Temporary and Permanent
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