before long I was spending

[Vladv1]

Could you please tell why the narrator is using Past Continuous after "before long". Is it to show contrast? Obviously, it is not the standard use of said tense.

 

[5jj]

It suggests ongoing continuous activity.

 

[Vladv1]

It suggests ongoing continuous activity.

Can it be used for contrast? LIke, I didn't like beer, but now I am drinking it every day.

 

[5jj]

I didn't like beer, but now I am drinking it every day.

You could use 'I drink' there. The progressive form emphasises the ongoing duration, not the contrast.

 

[jutfrank]

Obviously, it is not the standard use of said tense.

Why do you think this? What do you consider to be the standard use?

 

[Vladv1]

Why do you think this? What do you consider to be the standard use?

I was taught that past continous/present continous are not used with "every day,every night etc."

 

[5jj]

Who taught you that?

 

[Tarheel]

He's been doing it every day since then.

 

[emsr2d2]

I was taught that the past continuous/present continuous are not used with "every day", space here "every night" etc. no quotation mark here

Note my corrections above. Please answer 5jj's question in post #7.

 

[Vladv1]

Who taught you that?

At public school.

 

[emsr2d2]

An English teacher at public school.

You now know that what you were taught is wrong.