Past Tense: What to choose

[marin123]

Help me please:

1) should I use Past Perfect or Simple:
a) I had never liked going to the cinema on my own when I was a teenager.
Or
b) I never liked going to the cinema on my own when I was a teenager.

2) should I use Past Continuous or Past Perfect Continuous:
a) Kate was dancing, but when she saw a newcomer she stopped.
Or
b) Kate had been dancing, but when she saw a newcomer she stopped.




I feel like the variant (b) in both cases is correct, but I'm not sure :(

[5jj]

a) I never liked going to the cinema on my own when I was a teenager.
The past perfect is unnecessary.

2) should I use Past Continuous or Past Perfect Continuous?:
a) Kate was dancing, but when she saw a newcomer she stopped.
Or
b) Kate had been dancing, but when she saw a newcomer she stopped.
You can use either.

5

[emsr2d2]

Help me please:

1) should I use Past Perfect or Simple:
a) I had never liked going to the cinema on my own when I was a teenager.
Or
b) I never liked going to the cinema on my own when I was a teenager.

I feel like the variant (b) in both cases is correct, but I'm not sure :(

You will find some people who don't approve of "I never liked ..." when simply talking about the past. There's nothing wrong with "I didn't like going to the cinema on my own when I was a teenager".