Estaba caminando vs caminaba

Estaba caminando vs caminaba
 

Kindly explain the difference between "estaba caminando" and "caminaba" , are they interchangeable in all context?

Thank you

La diferencia es muy sutil; pero existe, sobre todo, para enfatizar una acción (debido a la sonoridad del gerundio). A veces el texto pide usar uno u otro.

Un saludo.

I agree with Julvenzor. I might just add that when used in a written text, "estaba caminando" may emphasize the action of walking while"caminaba" would simply set the frame for another action to happen.

In spoken language, depending on the region, some people use "caminaba" for more educated speech and "estaba caminando" in informal contexts.

I see it this way:

Estaba caminando - X was walking (at that moment. It was happening at that time)

Caminaba - x walked that park every day. (usual)

Caminó - x walked that park until his last day on earth ( he did this religiously)

Would that help?

Not necessarily:

- Caminaba en el parque cuando vi que el perro me seguía. (-> A sentence that would likely be found in written language.)

- Caminaba en el parque cuando vi que el perro me estaba siguiendo. (-> Probably found in a printed text, and the slight emphasis would be made on the fact that the dog had been following me for a while before I noticed it.)

- Estaba caminando en el parque cuando vi que el perro me estaba siguiendo. (-> Not the most euphonic sentence, but this might be what I'd hear in every day language.)

In all these examples the first imperfect frames the action of noticing the dog behind me.

thank you

I am stilll confused. Anyway, if the difference is very subtle, I think I need not worry about it at the present stage of my study spanish language.

Todavia soy confundido.De todos modos, si la diferencia es muy sutil, creo que no hace falta preocuparse de que en la etapa actual de mi estudio del español.( kindly point out my errors in this translation, if any)

Para que le sirva de recuerdo:

Estoy confundido = Ahora me encuentro así, mañana quizás no.
Soy confundido por X = Alguien me confunde.

Un saludo.

gracias