he was working

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he was working" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe someone who was engaged in a task or job at a specific time in the past. Example: "When I called him, he was working on the project and couldn't answer the phone."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

He was working vigilancia, he said, which involved patrolling.

The New Yorker

When he was working.

The New Yorker

He was working.

The New York Times

"He was working undercover.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

He was working on his gate.

The New York Times

"He was working around the clock.

The New York Times

Not what he was working towards".

The New York Times

Even at night, he was working".

The New York Times

He was working on not doing this.

The New York Times

He was working for me," he insisted.

Independent

Coulibaly said he was working for Isis.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he was working" to clearly indicate that someone was engaged in work or performing a job at a specific point in the past. For instance, "He was working late last night to meet the deadline."

Common error

Avoid using "he was working" when referring to a future event. Instead, use "he will be working" or "he is going to be working" to indicate future work activities.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he was working" functions as a verb phrase in the past continuous tense. This indicates an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past. Ludwig AI confirms the phrase is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "he was working" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to describe an ongoing action in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used across various contexts, primarily in news and media. While it maintains a neutral register suitable for both formal and informal settings, it's crucial to use the correct tense to avoid confusion. Consider alternatives like "he was employed" or "he had a job" for nuanced meanings. Overall, understanding the function and purpose of "he was working" ensures effective communication in writing and speech.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he was employed

Replaces "working" with a more formal synonym, "employed".

he had a job

Uses a more general term, focusing on the state of having employment.

he was on duty

Implies that the person was actively performing their job at a specific time.

he was in service

Suggests a more formal or official capacity of working.

he was active

A more general way of saying that someone was involved in some task.

he applied himself

Focuses on the effort and dedication the person put into their work.

he dedicated his time

Emphasizes the commitment of time to a specific task or job.

he took action

Suggests that the person was actively doing something.

he exerted effort

Highlights the energy expended by the person.

he performed tasks

Focuses on the specific activities the person was doing.

FAQs

How can I use "he was working" in a sentence?

You can use "he was working" to describe someone's activity at a specific time in the past. For example, "When I called, "he was working" on a new project".

What are some alternatives to saying "he was working"?

Alternatives include phrases like "he was employed", "he was on duty", or "he had a job", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "he was work" instead of "he was working"?

No, "he was work" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is ""he was working"", which uses the past continuous tense.

What's the difference between "he was working" and "he worked"?

"He was working" (past continuous) describes an ongoing action in the past, while "he worked" (simple past) describes a completed action. For instance, "He was working when I called" versus "He worked there last year".