Visited/visiting him twice a day

[ademoglu]

Hello,

*self-made*

- When John was in hospital, we visited/were visiting him twice a day.

I cannot decide which one is better - simple past or prograssive. I gather that both are OK but I am not sure.

Thanks.

 

[teechar]

My default choice would be the past simple.

 

[ademoglu]

Even if he stayed in hospital for a short time- maybe 2 months - would using the past cont. be weird?

 

[Rover_KE]

No.

 

[tedmc]

I do not see the need to use the past continuous when you can use the simple past tense.
The past continuous is used to describe two actions in the past or an action at a specific time.
http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/pastcontinuous.html

 

[ademoglu]

Sorry, Rover, I had to chance the question because the previous one was not what I wanted to ask.

Is your answer "no" to the post 3?

 

[Rover_KE]

It was my answer to post #3 before you changed it.

 

[MikeNewYork]

I would use the simple past tense.

 

[J&K Tutoring]

Others have given good responses to your original question. I would like to point out that, in America, we are in the hospital.

 

[Raymott]

Even if he stayed in hospital for a short time- maybe 2 months - would using the past cont. be weird?

I would not consider two months in hospital to be a short time. Two days is a short time. But that's irrelevant for your point.

 

[TheParser]

***** NOT A TEACHER ****


Hello, Ademoglu:

I think that post #11 hit the nail on the head.

By the way, did you miss our common friend Michael Swan's comments?

"The past progressive is possible if the repeated actions form a 'background' for the main action."

Here is Mr. Swan's example: "At the time it happened, I was seeing a lot of Belinda, and I was also going to the opera a lot."

I have the 1995 edition of Practical English Usage, entry (NOT page) 417.5.