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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Frequency adverbs
I would like to ask about the following sentences with the verb write in the past tense.
When I want to express the process of writing, not the result should I say I often wrote him a letter when I was away or I was often writing him a letter when I was away ?
I know that we use simple tenses with frequency adverbs, but what if I want to express incompletion? Can I use continuous forms with these adverbs? e.g. He was often selling his car, but did not manage to sell it. or She was a very happy person. She was often smiling or she often smiled?
When I want to express the process of writing, not the result should I say I often wrote him a letter when I was away or I was often writing him a letter when I was away ?
I know that we use simple tenses with frequency adverbs, but what if I want to express incompletion? Can I use continuous forms with these adverbs? e.g. He was often selling his car, but did not manage to sell it. or She was a very happy person. She was often smiling or she often smiled?
Top answer
Anonymous should I say I often wrote him a letter when I was away or I was often writing him a letter when I was away ? Say the first. Anonymous He was often selling his car, but did not manage to sell it.
- Anonymous should I say I often wrote him a letter when I was away or I was often writing him a letter when I was away ?
- Say the first.
- Anonymous He was often selling his car, but did not manage to sell it.
- No!
- Impossible!
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2 Answers
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Anonymousshould I say I often wrote him a letter when I was away orSay the first.I was often writing him a letter when I was away?
Anonymous He was often selling his car, but did not manage to sell it.No! Impossible! He tried repeatedly to sell his car, but never managed to sell it.
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