What's the difference between "sat" and "was sitting" in the following? Are they interchangeable?
Mary sat on the bench, looking at George.
Mary was sitting on the bench, looking at George.
Past Tense – Choosing Between ‘Sat’ or ‘Was Sitting’
past-continuouspast-tense
Best Answer
They may mean the same, but was sitting is unambiguously continuous.
Mary sat ... could mean that she was standing, looking at George, but suddenly took a seated position.