He lived in London when he was young vs He was living in London when he was young

Both phrases are correct, but they convey slightly different meanings. "He lived in London when he was young" implies a general statement about his past residence in London, while "He was living in London when he was young" suggests a specific period of time during his youth when he resided in London.

Last updated: March 31, 2024 • 3775 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used to indicate a general statement about someone's past residence in London.

"He lived in London when he was young"

This phrase is used to describe a person's past living situation in London without specifying the exact duration or period.

Examples:

He lived in London when he was young, but later moved to Paris.
She lived in London when she was a student.

Show examples from the web [+]

He lived in London with our father and my stepmother.
When I lived in London last I was young. I was fresh, I was everything.
James, that night in London when I was with the Bolshoi...
I was in London when I heard.
Imagine this happening here in London when margot Al-harazi gets control of ten drones.
He lived in that big house beside the park.
He lived in the same house as PJ in second year.
All I knew was, he lived in Carlisle.
An echo of the life he lived in Baltimore.
He lived in Berlin between 1989 and 1990.
He lived in France for some time, then went to Italy.
He lived in a typical Japanese-style house.
He lived in the French Alps for a while.
He lived in New Hampshire, and we weren't that close.
He lived in the moment like a child.
Said he lived in anticipation of drinking it.
He lived in the neighborhood 48 years while it went to hell.
He lived in a neighbourhood where screams were commonplace.
Another fact, he lived in Manhattan.
He lived in the presidential palace with Omar during the Taliban regime.

Alternatives:

He resided in London when he was young.
He stayed in London when he was young.

This phrase is correct and commonly used to indicate a specific period of time during someone's youth when they resided in London.

"He was living in London when he was young"

This phrase is used to emphasize a particular time frame in the past when the person was actively living in London.

Examples:

He was living in London when he was young, from 1990 to 1995.
She was living in London when she attended university.

Show examples from the web [+]

This raises a question: in the European elections next year, if the Commissioner was living in London he would get a vote.
And I have no idea where Tinny was living in London, so don't ask.
He was living in an abusive household.
A distant relative died, he was living in Venezuela.
He was living in some motel over in Burbank.
When he died, he was living in three rooms.
I mean while he was living in my apartment.
But it ends up he was living in the same house.
He was living in sin, defying the laws of nature.
Plus he was living in a repo yard.
Tom became friends with Mary when he was living in Boston.
He was living in a house full of ex-junkies.
Grrrant's ID indicated he was living in Lannigan Hall at San Diego State.
Until a year ago, he was living in Texas.
He was living in the area when Julie disappeared.
Before that, he was living in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Lieutenant Dan said he was living in a hotel.
He had seen and adored this play in London when he was 21.
Blair, at the party, I ran into the guy that I dated when I was living in London, and we spent the whole night together... just talking.
I love the name Shania. I saw Shania twain twice when I was living in London.

Alternatives:

He was residing in London when he was young.
He was staying in London when he was young.

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He lived in London when he was young vs He was living in London when he was young