How to Use Were to Describe Negative Continuous Action

In this sentence, ‘were’ is used with another verb. We use ‘not’ for negation.

In these sentences, we use ‘were’ as a helping verb with the main verb. We should use the present participle of a verb, which is the -ing form of a verb.

Construction of a sentence using ‘were’

We can construct a sentence as follows:

• We/you/they/plural subject+ were +not + present participle (-ing form) of the main verb + other words + full stop (.)

Examples of ‘were’ in a sentence about continuous action

Let’s see how to use ‘were’ in the sentences with some examples.

Here are some examples. The construction is as above.

Have a look-

1. We were not moving forward with our parents.
   (main verb move+ ing)
2. You were not talking about my success.
   (main verb talk+ ing)
3. They were not running a Marathon.
   (main verb run+ ing)
4. We were not playing table tennis there.
   (main verb play+ ing)
5. They were not listening to music in a low voice.
    (main verb listen+ ing)
6. We were not making dinner for them.
   (main verb make+ ing)
7. My friends were not spending the afternoon in the garden.
   (main verb spend+ ing)
8. Parents were not asking about their ward’s progress.
     (main verb ask+ ing)
9. Monkeys were not snatching the biscuits.
   (main verb snatch+ ing)
10. We were not spoiling water unnecessarily.
    (main verb spoil+ ing)
11. My grandparents were not taking me with them.
    (main verb take+ ing)
12. The dancers were not practising Bhangda.
    (main verb practise+ ing)
13. You were not paying him extra money.
    (main verb pay+ ing)
14. The singers were not singing a popular song.
    (main verb sing+ ing)
15. They were not waiting for us.
    (main verb wait+ ing)
16. We were not driving a car through the desert.
    (main verb drive + ing)
17. You were not working for him.
    (main verb work+ ing)
18. You were not visiting the flood-affected area.
    (main verb visit+ ing)
19. Girls were not constantly dancing.
    (main verb dance+ ing)
20. We were not planning my studies.
    (main verb plan+ ing)
21. The dogs were not barking at them.
    (main verb bark+ ing)
22. The students were not decorating their class.
    (main verb decorate+ ing)
23. They were not walking in the street.
    (main verb walk+ ing)
24. Crows were not flying in the sky.
    (main verb fly+ ing)
25. Drivers were not driving the buses.
    (main verb drive+ ing)
26. They were not informing us about the proper situation.
    (main verb inform+ ing)
27. You were not showing me that picture.
    (main verb show+ ing)
28. Snehal and her friend were not attending the marriage.
    (main verb attend+ ing)
29. You were not shouting at him.
    (main verb shout+ ing)
30. Snakes were not chasing their prey.
    (main verb chase+ ing)

Related Lessons-

1. Was continuous negative answers 
2.  Use of: were
3.         negative sentences
4.                   questions
5.               affirmative answers

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