Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[yoshi-pooh]

Hi, everyone.



He said his girlfriend's father was the mayor of my hometown.
He was saying his girlfriend's father was the mayor of my hometown.

I often hear people say "... was saying" as well as "...said".

Are there any difference in nuance between the two?

yoshi-pooh

[CP]

When you want to tell what the person said, say, "He said." When you want to tell what the person was saying when something else happened, say, "He was saying." When you want to tell what the person used to say all the time, say, "He was always saying."

He was always saying his girlfriend's father was the mayor -- as though that should impress us.
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