Tense/help

Tense/help
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Tense/help
Message from khayalarm posted on 08-01-2024 at 10:25:23 (D | E | F)
Hello,
Can you help me please?

Can we use the past continuous tense in the sentences including "ago" ?

Thank you for your answers.

Re: Tense/help from gerondif, posted on 08-01-2024 at 11:00:57 (D | E)
Hello
"ago" places an event in the past and usually a simple preterite is used:
He arrived in Britain in 2013.
He arrived in Britain 10 years ago.
He has been living in England for 10 years.
He has been living in England since 2013.

You could find:
He lives in our street.
He has been living in our street for a long time.
He was already living in that street 10 years ago, when I moved here. I have always known him to live here.

If it is an event, an action, a simple preterite will certainly be used.
He broke the window three days ago.

If it is a state, you may find a past continuous tense.

He has difficulties walking. He was already finding it difficult to walk ten years ago, when his illness began to grow more severe.

He is moody. He was already brooding all the time ten years ago, nothing would be right for him.

Re: Tense/help from traviskidd, posted on 10-01-2024 at 23:57:47 (D | E)
Hello, why not?
"An hour ago, I was watching TV."

See you.

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