Find the error, correct it, and explain why it is an error.

Question

I watching television when the power went out.

Answer 1

Correct Sentence:

I was watching television when the power went out.

Explanation:

The word 'was' is missing to make the past continuous form of 'watch'. This is necessary because we have two activities in the past, a long activity (past continuous) that is interrupted by a short activity (past simple). The past continuous form requires the verb 'to be' in the past (was or were) in combination with the present participle (here: 'watching').

Answer 2

Find the error: "I watching".

Correct it: The word "was" should be between "I" and "watching".

Explain why it is an error: The word "was" is a helping verb. The word "was" helps the main action verb "watching" to form the past progressive tense.