I was attending

USAGE SUMMARY

"I was attending" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is a past progressive verb phrase used to indicate an on-going action that was happening at a particular point in the past. You can use it to indicate an activity that had been occurring prior to a certain point in time. For example, "I was attending a college class when my phone started ringing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I was attending for the first time".

The Guardian - Books

When I was attending N.Y.U.

The New York Times

A few weeks ago, I was attending an educational conference.

The New York Times

I was attending enrichment seminars, but not fully.

The New York Times

I was attending George Washington University and aspired to be a newsman.

The New York Times

I almost got expelled from school because I was attending so few classes.

The New York Times

I was attending the Clinton Global Initiative in New York City.

The New York Times

I was attending Vilnius University in Lithuania, and Leonard was from Ukraine.

The New York Times

M.I.: I modeled while I was attending drama school at Guildhall, in London.

The New York Times

I was recently asked by a colleague which university I was attending for my MBA.

The Economist

I was attending a private school where the student population was predominately white.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I was attending" to describe an ongoing action in the past, providing context to what else was happening at that time.

Common error

Avoid using "I was attending to" when you simply mean "I was attending". "Attend to" has a different meaning, implying you were dealing with or taking care of something.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was attending" functions as a verb phrase in the past progressive tense. It indicates an action that was in progress at a specific point in the past. Ludwig confirms its validity and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I was attending" is a grammatically correct and very common past progressive verb phrase used to describe being present at an event or activity in the past. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous real-world examples from diverse sources. It's often used to provide context or background information. While generally neutral in register, its use spans from formal news reports to informal conversations. When aiming for variety, alternatives like "I participated in" or "I was present at" can be considered. However, be mindful not to confuse it with "I was attending to", which has a distinct meaning. The phrase appears frequently in news and media, as well as scientific contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was present at

Focuses on physical presence at a location or event.

I participated in

Replaces "attending" with "participated in", emphasizing active involvement rather than just presence.

I took part in

Similar to "participated in", highlighting involvement in an event.

I was at

A simpler way to indicate presence at a place or event.

I was a participant in

Emphasizes the role of being a participant.

I went to

Indicates the action of going to and being present at an event.

I sat in on

Implies attending informally, often a lecture or meeting.

I joined

Suggests becoming a member or part of something.

I frequented

Indicates attending a place or event often.

I graced with my presence

A more humorous or self-aware way to indicate attendance.

FAQs

How can I use "I was attending" in a sentence?

Use "I was attending" to describe being present at an event or activity in the past. For example, "I was attending a conference when I received the news".

What are some alternatives to "I was attending"?

You can use alternatives like "I participated in", "I took part in", or "I was present at" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "I was attending to" instead of "I was attending"?

While "I was attending" means you were present at an event, "I was attending to" implies you were dealing with or taking care of something. They have different meanings and should not be used interchangeably.

What's the difference between "I attended" and "I was attending"?

"I attended" refers to a completed action of being present at an event. "I was attending" describes an action in progress at a specific time in the past, often implying it was ongoing or interrupted by something else.