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Elizabeth
Hey🙂 Is it grammatically correct to say “I was playing the piano for 3 hours yesterday.” I have some doubts about “for” with the present continuous. Should I use the past perfect or something?
2025년 4월 22일 오전 7:15
답변 · 13
1
Correct sentence:
"I was playing the piano for 3 hours yesterday."
This uses the past continuous (was playing) + duration (for 3 hours), and it’s fine.
Here's why:
The past continuous describes an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past.
The phrase “for 3 hours” gives us the duration of the activity.
“Yesterday” gives us the time reference.
So, you're saying: At some point yesterday, I was in the middle of playing the piano, and it lasted 3 hours.
🟡 Alternative – also correct:
"I played the piano for 3 hours yesterday."
This uses the past simple to describe a finished action and is more direct.
Use this if you’re just telling someone what you did, without focusing on it being in progress.
🟠 Would past perfect work?
"I had been playing the piano for 3 hours..."
This form (past perfect continuous) is only correct if you're setting up another event afterward, like:
I had been playing the piano for 3 hours when the neighbors complained.
So it requires a second event to justify the past perfect.
In summary:
"I was playing the piano for 3 hours yesterday." Correct. Focuses on the action in progress.
"I played the piano for 3 hours yesterday." Also correct. More direct.
"I had been playing..." Only use if it connects to another past event.
2025년 4월 24일
1
That is just fine 🙂
2025년 4월 22일
Hi Elizabeth. It’s a good sentence, although it’s past continuous not present.
2025년 4월 22일
Ik that Piano doesn't take " the " before it!
2025년 4월 22일
아직도 답을 찾지 못하셨나요?
질문을 남겨보세요. 원어민이 도움을 줄 수 있을 거예요!
Elizabeth
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