it was extending

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was extending" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an action that was ongoing in the past, particularly when referring to something that was being lengthened or stretched over time. Example: "As the sun set, the shadow of the tree was extending across the lawn."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

A Dallas pizza chain that attracted hate mail and death threats for its decision to accept Mexican currency temporarily said it was extending its currency policy.

The New York Times

G.M. said it was extending its five-year deals through May.

The New York Times

General Dynamics said yesterday that it was extending its pending offer for shares of Newport News Shipbuilding common stock.

The New York Times

If the delegation had come to reach out to Kashmir, it was extending its hand through barbed wire.

The New York Times

For one thing, Barclays and RBS were helped by the announcement by the Federal Reserve that it was extending its support for banks from September until January.

The Guardian - Business

The Canadian gold producer Placer Dome Inc. said it was extending its unsolicited all-stock bid for AurionGold Ltd. of Australia to Aug. 7 from July 24.

The New York Times

Zimbabwe said Sunday that it was quitting the Commonwealth after the organization said it was extending its suspension of the country.

The New York Times

As anticipated, Independent News & Media announced today that it was extending its sale talks with Alexander Lebedev over the Independent and Independent on Sunday.

The Guardian

Moscow also announced it was extending its humanitarian ceasefire for a further 24 hours by allowing a further pause in the bombing from 8am to 7pm on Saturday.

The Guardian

At the same time, G.M. said it was extending its incentives to 2003 model vehicles, which are starting to arrive in showrooms, seeking to keep its momentum going.

The New York Times

· The Bank of England announced that it was extending its special liquidity scheme, which is intended to ease pressures on banks, until the end of January.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "it was extending" to describe an action in progress that lengthens or prolongs something in the past. Ensure the context clearly indicates what 'it' refers to.

Common error

Avoid using "it were extending", as "it" is a singular pronoun and requires the singular verb form "was".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was extending" functions as a verb phrase in the past continuous tense. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its usage in describing actions that were ongoing at a specific time in the past.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was extending" is a common and grammatically correct verb phrase used in the past continuous tense to describe an action of lengthening or prolonging something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used across various contexts, particularly in news and business reporting. When using the phrase, ensure subject-verb agreement and consider context to choose the most appropriate alternative, like "it prolonged" or "it continued". It's important to avoid the error of using plural verb forms with the singular pronoun "it".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it extended

Simple past tense, focusing on the completed action of extending.

it was prolonging

Continuous tense, emphasizing the action of prolonging in progress.

it prolonged

Emphasizes the act of lengthening the duration of something.

it lengthened

Focuses on making something physically longer.

it was continuing

Highlights the ongoing state of extending something.

it expanded

Implies an increase in size, volume, or scope.

it broadened

Suggests an increase in scope or range, rather than length.

it continued

Focuses on the uninterrupted nature of something.

it carried on

Similar to 'kept on' but can also imply resilience or persistence.

it kept on

Informal way of saying something continued.

FAQs

How can I use "it was extending" in a sentence?

Use "it was extending" to describe an action that was ongoing and lengthening something, as in "The company announced that "it was extending" its hours."

What's the difference between "it was extending" and "it extended"?

"It was extending" describes a continuous action in the past, while "it extended" describes a completed action.

Which is correct, "it was extending" or "it is extending"?

Both are correct, but they refer to different time frames. "It was extending" refers to the past, while "it is extending" refers to the present.

What can I say instead of "it was extending"?

You can use alternatives like "it prolonged", "it lengthened", or "it continued", depending on the specific context.