0
Pleasehelp Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

What were you doing?

What were you doing? This is a past continuous question but it doesn't have a second second part to it?

So if I were to reply with...I was watching televsion.

Would it be considered proper grammar?
  

Top answer

Yes. BTW, It's the same as what are you doing placed in the past. But while 'what are you doing' implies 'now' what were you doing needs a time reference of some kind so I assume that something must have preceded the question.

  • Yes.
  • BTW, It's the same as what are you doing placed in the past.
  • But while 'what are you doing' implies 'now' what were you doing needs a time reference of some kind so I assume that something must have preceded the question.
  • If you were to say 'What were you doing last night at 8'' that would certainly make sense.
  • To just say 'what were you doing' without any prior context, would be wrong.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

4 Answers
0
Yes.

BTW, It's the same as what are you doing placed in the past. But while 'what are you doing' implies 'now' what were you doing needs a time reference of some kind so I assume that something must have preceded the question.

If you were to say 'What were you doing last night at 8'' that would certainly make sense. To just say 'what were you doing' without any prior
0
IvanhrYes.

BTW, It's the same as what are you doing placed in the past. But while 'what are you doing' implies 'now' what were you doing needs a time reference of some kind so I assume that something must have preceded the question.

If you were to say 'What were you doing last night at 8'' that would certainly make sense. To just say 'what w
0
What's missing is a situational reference.

What were you doing in my office (just now)?
What were you doing when the murder took place?
What were you doing when the phone rang?
What were you doing while your kids were prank calling emergency services?

There's a bit more suspicion attached to the words than simply what "What did you do?"

What did you do on y
0

Yes, it's absolutely correct.

Because you're still referring to what happened last night.

Related Questions