I were walking by

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I were walking by" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form would be "I was walking by," which is used to describe a past action. Example: "If I were walking by the park, I would have stopped to enjoy the scenery."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

One evening last winter, Komlos and I were walking by the U.S.O.

The New Yorker

In January, Nick and I were walking by the used-car lot and decided to take a look.

The New York Times - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"I said, 'Shulie, I'm walking by your apartment.

The New Yorker

"If I'm walking by some Bloods, I'll walk tougher.

The New York Times

"I was walking by, and totally by chance I found the perfect cake pan," I said.

The New York Times - Food

I was walking by, and she was down on the floor looking for something.

The New York Times - Books

"I was walking by the river this morning," she said yesterday.

Independent

"All summer long I walk by her as if I'm walking by a grave," she said.

The New York Times - Magazine

A few years ago I was walking by a blood drive.

The New York Times

"I'm walking by it and I'm thinking, You need to go home, you need to work," he says.

The New Yorker

A few days later, I was walking by the corner again, and there was the bum, back begging.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct subject-verb agreement. Use "I was walking by" instead of "I were walking by". Using the correct past continuous form ensures clarity and grammatical accuracy.

Common error

Avoid using "I were" as it's grammatically incorrect in standard English. Remember that "I" takes the verb "was" in the past tense. Therefore, the correct phrase is "I was walking by".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I were walking by" functions as an attempt to describe a past action, but it fails grammatically due to incorrect subject-verb agreement. Ludwig flags it as an error, recommending "I was walking by" instead.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I were walking by" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "I was walking by". Ludwig identifies this error and the provided examples, despite existing in published sources, highlight deviations from standard English. It is important to ensure correct subject-verb agreement in your writing. The correct phrase serves to narrate events of passing by a location, intending a neutral register. Therefore, always use "I was walking by".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was walking by

Corrects the grammatical error by using the past continuous tense with the correct subject-verb agreement.

I was passing by

Synonymous with 'walking by', but emphasizes the act of moving past.

I went by

A simple and direct way of saying 'passed by'.

I happened to walk by

Indicates a chance encounter or unplanned passing.

I was just going by

Emphasizes the casualness and lack of intention in passing a place.

I chanced to walk by

A more formal way of saying 'happened to walk by'.

I strolled past

Suggests a leisurely and casual manner of walking.

I ambled by

Similar to 'strolled past', indicating a slow and relaxed pace.

I was in the vicinity of

Focuses on being near a place without necessarily walking directly past it.

I traversed

Indicates a more extensive journey or crossing of an area.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say "I were walking by"?

The correct way to say it is "I was walking by". The verb "were" is not used with the first-person singular pronoun "I" in standard English.

Is "I were walking by" grammatically correct?

No, "I were walking by" is not grammatically correct in standard English. The correct form is "I was walking by".

What can I say instead of "I were walking by"?

You can use phrases like "I was passing by", "I happened to walk by", or simply "I went by".

What's the difference between "I was walking by" and "I were walking by"?

"I was walking by" is grammatically correct and describes a past action of walking past something. "I were walking by" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in standard English.