I was teaching

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was teaching" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action that occurred in the past, specifically indicating that the speaker was engaged in the act of teaching at that time. Example: "Last semester, I was teaching a course on modern literature."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

I was teaching anatomy at Oxford.

The New York Times - Science

I thought I was teaching.

The New York Times - Books

They thought I was teaching.

The New York Times - Books

"I was teaching classes of 31, now I have 11.

The Guardian

That used to happen when I was teaching.

The Guardian

Some were students in classes I was teaching".

The New York Times - Magazine

"I was teaching my feet to understand each other".

The New Yorker

"After graduating, I was teaching Spanish at Memphis Business Academy.

The New Yorker

I was teaching English, as part of Care4Calais's outreach scheme.

The Guardian

JT: And I was teaching part-time, yes.

The Guardian - Books

I was teaching, and my husband was farming.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Prefer "I taught" when you simply want to state that you taught something in the past, without emphasizing the duration of the action.

Common error

Avoid using "I was teaching" when a simple statement of past teaching is sufficient. Overusing the continuous form can make your writing sound unnecessarily wordy. For instance, instead of "I was teaching math last year", use "I taught math last year" if you simply want to convey the subject you taught.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was teaching" functions as a verb phrase in the past continuous tense. It indicates an action (teaching) that was in progress at a specific time or over a period in the past, providing context about what the speaker was doing.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

77%

Books

10%

Lifestyle

3%

Less common in

Science

2%

Music

2%

Opinion

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I was teaching" is a grammatically sound and frequently used construction in English. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is suitable for describing past actions in progress, appearing most commonly in news and media contexts. When writing, ensure it aligns with the intended meaning, contrasting it with alternatives like "I taught" for completed past actions. Avoiding the overuse of continuous tenses and correctly portraying the context will make your text sound more compelling and native. The variety of authoritative sources using this phrase further underscores its widespread acceptance and versatility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I taught

This is a simpler past tense form, omitting the continuous aspect.

I used to teach

This indicates a habitual action of teaching in the past.

I had been teaching

This is past perfect continuous, emphasizing the duration of teaching before another point in the past.

I lectured

This suggests a more formal style of teaching, often in a university setting.

I instructed

This alternative emphasizes the act of giving instructions during teaching.

I provided instruction

This phrase offers a more formal and descriptive way to express teaching.

I was giving lessons

This focuses on the activity of delivering specific lessons.

I was training

This implies teaching a specific skill or set of skills.

I mentored

This suggests a more personal and guiding form of teaching.

I guided students

This highlights the aspect of guiding students through a learning process.

FAQs

How do I use "I was teaching" in a sentence?

Use "I was teaching" to describe an action in progress in the past. For example, "I was teaching a class when the power went out."

What can I say instead of "I was teaching"?

You can use alternatives like "I taught", "I used to teach", or "I instructed" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "I was teaching" or "I taught"?

Both are correct, but they convey slightly different meanings. "I was teaching" emphasizes the ongoing nature of the action in the past, while "I taught" is a simple statement of a past action.

What's the difference between "I was teaching" and "I had been teaching"?

"I was teaching" describes an action in progress at a specific time in the past. "I had been teaching" describes an action that continued for some time before another action in the past.