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

Question

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

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.

Alternatives:

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

Alternatives:

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

Answer 1

He was living 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.

Answer 2

He lived in London when he was young

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

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

He was living in London when he was young

He lived in London when he was young

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