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Poland flagJakub
Past Simple or Past Continuous? Hi! Should I say: 1. I was at my home (or IN my home?) this time last week. OR 2. I was being at home this time last week? For instance: „I was at home, when it happened” or „I was being at home, when it happened”. It makes me a little trouble, cause I’m sure the correct form is Past Continuous when I want to say e.g. „I was having breakfast when the phone rang”. But what about this sample above? Are the rules the same with „to be” verb?

Corrections · 5

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Past Simple or Past Continuous?

Hi!
Should I say:
1. I was at my home (or IN my home?) this time last week. OR
2. I was being at home this time last week?

For instance: „I was at home, when it happened” or „I was being at home, when it happened”.

It makes me a little trouble, cause I’m sure the correct form is Past Continuous when I want to say e.g. „I was having breakfast when the phone rang”. But what about this sample above? Are the rules the same with „to be” verb?


The correct sentence would be "I was at home when it happened."
Or
"I was at home this time last week."
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Thank you guys!
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"I was at home, when it happened" is correct. We don't usually use "to be" with continuous tenses. For example, if it were in the present, we say "I am at home". We don't say, "I am being at home." The rule also applies when we talk about the past. An exception to this is when we describe how someone is behaving. We can say "He was being careful" or "She is being mean"
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The first one, "I was at home", is correct. The rule applies to "to be" just like other verbs. Ex: "I was sleeping when he called." "While I was at work, it began to rain."

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