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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
tense
Hello,
I see native speakers use the past progressive when they're asked, "what are you doing?". For example, "I was reading", "I was thinking of ..." etc. I wonder why. Because the tense doesn't match together.
Could you please explain?
I see native speakers use the past progressive when they're asked, "what are you doing?". For example, "I was reading", "I was thinking of ..." etc. I wonder why. Because the tense doesn't match together.
Could you please explain?
Top answer
The use of the past progressive in such contexts implies that you somehow interrupted the person using it. g. A: What are you doing?
- The use of the past progressive in such contexts implies that you somehow interrupted the person using it.
- g.
- A: What are you doing?
- B: I was reading, [but now I'm talking to you on the phone].
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3 Answers
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The use of the past progressive in such contexts implies that you somehow interrupted the person using it.
e.g.
A: What are you doing?
B: I was reading, [but now I'm talking to you on the phone].
e.g.
A: What are you doing?
B: I was reading, [but now I'm talking to you on the phone].
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AnonymousI wonder why.Because when the question is asked, the person was reading, thinking, or working.
When the person answers the question, he is no longer reading, thinking or working; he is answering the question.
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