I remained watching

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I remained watching" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone continues to observe something without interruption. Example: "As the storm raged outside, I remained watching the trees sway in the wind."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Ashore on the island, we noticed a loon bouncing in the rough water on the windward side about 20 yards away, where it remained, watching us, during our hourlong stay.

The New York Times - Sports

'How long did you watch?' 'How long did you watch?' his host asks, saying he remained watching for three buckets.

The Guardian - Books

Afterward, a reporter noted, one man remained "watching with haggardly eyes every spadeful of dust" that was thrown on Thackeray's grave.

The New York Times - Books

Those who remained watched the Phillies score three more runs off Chris Schwinden.

The New York Times - Sports

"[I have] this feeling that I had been grateful to have her in my life and grateful to have known her and, you know, the love remained". Watch HuffPost Live's full segment on "friendship breakups" below.

HuffPost

I remained faithful, watching every episode of both shows when I got home from a long day at the studio.

Huffington Post

I watched friends get married, have children, yet I remained online, reading, watching, writing, but mostly masturbating.

Huffington Post

I remained with Constantin, watching the wide, white lamplit village square from an upstairs window.

The Guardian - Travel

I remained where I was, watching.

The New Yorker

I remained a dutiful son, watching over her needs, but was at first unwilling and later unable to be tender.

The New York Times

Upon the storm's sudden dissipation later that day, the remaining watch areas were discontinued.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I continued watching" or "I kept watching" as more common and natural-sounding alternatives to "I remained watching" in most contexts. Consider the specific nuance you want to convey; "remained" can emphasize stillness or a deliberate choice to stay.

Common error

Avoid using "remained" when a more active verb like "continued" or "kept" would better convey the ongoing nature of the action. "Remained" is more suitable when emphasizing a state of being or a lack of change.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "I remained watching" is that of a main clause where "I" is the subject, "remained" is the verb, and "watching" acts as a participle complementing the verb. Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I remained watching" is grammatically correct but less common than alternatives such as "I continued watching" or "I kept watching". Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. Its use suggests a deliberate decision to stay in place and observe, making it suitable for contexts where this emphasis is important. While the phrase is primarily found in news and media sources, its neutral register makes it appropriate for general communication. When writing, consider whether the nuance of remaining is necessary, or if a more common alternative would be clearer.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I continued watching

Replaces "remained" with "continued", offering a more common and direct alternative.

I kept watching

Uses "kept" instead of "remained", implying a sustained effort or decision to watch.

I stayed watching

Substitutes "remained" with "stayed", suggesting a deliberate choice to remain in place while watching.

I persisted in watching

Emphasizes the persistence or determination in continuing to watch.

I was still watching

Highlights the ongoing state of watching, using a more passive construction.

I was left watching

Indicates that the speaker was the only one watching, implying a sense of abandonment.

I found myself still watching

Suggests a realization of the continuing action of watching, often after some time has passed.

I resumed watching

Indicates watching something, pausing it and going back to watching it

I happened to be watching

Indicates that watching something was a coincidence

I attentively watched

Replaces "remained" with "attentively", focusing the manner of watching, implying careful observation.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "I remained watching"?

You can use alternatives like "I continued watching", "I kept watching", or "I stayed watching" depending on the context.

Is "I remained watching" grammatically correct?

Yes, "I remained watching" is grammatically correct, but it's less common than alternatives. It implies a deliberate choice to stay and watch.

When is it best to use "I remained watching" over other options?

Use "I remained watching" when you want to emphasize that you stayed in place specifically to watch something, highlighting the act of remaining as a conscious decision. For instance, 'Everyone left, but "I remained watching"'.

What's the difference between "I remained watching" and "I was still watching"?

"I remained watching" emphasizes the act of staying in place to watch, whereas "I was still watching" simply indicates that the action of watching was ongoing.