Elizabeth
HeyšŸ™‚ Is it grammatically correct to say ā€œI was playing the piano for 3 hours yesterday.ā€ I have some doubts about ā€œforā€ with the present continuous. Should I use the past perfect or something?
22 апр. 2025 г., 7:15
ŠžŃ‚Š²ŠµŃ‚Ń‹ Ā· 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 ā€œfor 3 hoursā€ gives us the duration of the activity. ā€œYesterdayā€ 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.
24 апр. 2025 г., 1:49
1
That is just fine šŸ™‚
22 апр. 2025 г., 11:44
Hi Elizabeth. It’s a good sentence, although it’s past continuous not present.
22 апр. 2025 г., 8:37
Ik that Piano doesn't take " the " before it!
22 апр. 2025 г., 19:15
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