TextRanch
The best way to perfect your writing.

Discover why 1,062,726 users count on TextRanch to get their English corrected!

1. Input your text below.
2. Get it corrected in a few minutes by our editors.
3. Improve your English!

One of our experts will correct your English.

TextRanch Editors

I was going. vs I were going.

'I was going' is the proper English phrasing. The use of 'was' is appropriate for the first person singular pronoun 'I' in the past continuous tense. 'I were going' is incorrect because 'were' is used with plural subjects or in subjunctive mood.
Gregg profile picture

Explained by Gregg
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: September 18, 2024 • 16651 views

Correct. 'I was going' is the correct form for the first person singular pronoun 'I' in the past continuous tense.

"I was going."

'I was going' is used to describe an action that was ongoing in the past.

Examples:

  • I was going to the store when it started raining.
  • She said I was going too fast.
  • I was going to call you, but I forgot.
  • He was going to the gym every day last week.
  • We were going to have a picnic, but it rained.
  • Nov 6, 2021 ... “I was going” is a continuous, less-defined form of the past tense. It's the imperfect form using the -ing verb.
  • ... " I was going to" · Ask Question. Asked 7 years, 8 months ago. Modified 4 years, 3 months ago. Viewed 36k times. This question shows research effort; it ...
  • Jun 3, 2023 ... My wife texts me "I was going to take the kids to rehearsals with me and let them play in the lobby. They've been nice to each other today.
  • Oct 24, 2010 ... “I was going to pick you tomorrow from the airport” sounds perfectly fine to me. What's wrong with that?
  • 'I was going to save everybody else in this world.' by Elizabeth Shogren, Thi Bui, Sarah Mirk and Amanda Pike June 22, 2020 June 30, 2021 ...
  • Aug 30, 2011 ... In English, sometimes I say "I was going to" for a future action, e.g., "Have you done X?" "No, I was going to do it when I get home.
  • Jun 18, 2000 ... When and if I survived the attack, I was going to make sure that he was put in prison and he was going to rot. When I went to the police ...
  • Jan 28, 2017 ... >> How can I remember something that I was going to Google but forgot? This happens to me all the time; literally. I am very flighty and have an ...
  • When I was going through my treatments, I did not have to worry about missing work because I am a teacher and since this was during the pandemic, I could be ...

'I were going' is incorrect. 'Were' is used with plural subjects or in subjunctive mood, not with the singular pronoun 'I'.

"I were going."

  • Apr 30, 2022 ... One is a past tense with intention: I was going to bake a cake, but I didn't have any eggs. One is a conditional: If I were going to kill ...
  • May 1, 2022 ... 269 likes, 7 comments - npcsara on May 1, 2022: "My friends and I were going out and wanted to get a group photo, so we found a guy outside ...
  • If I Were Going The Alice and Jerry Books Reading Foundation Series. [O'Donnell, Mabel and Carey, Alice] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers ...
  • Oct 21, 2019 ... If I Were Going to Get a Tattoo It Would Say . . . by J.D. Walt · Listen Now! October 22, 2019. Acts 22:10-16 (NIV). “'Get up,' the Lord said ...
  • Jan 3, 2023 ... GF and I were going over the definition of Space Opera. I think NMS is a Space Opera....
  • May 26, 2022 ... If I were going to travel with my dog, I'd take a train. As far as I know, both a versions and b versions express the future unreal conditional, ...
  • Oct 27, 2024 ... My husband and I were going to dress up as Jason and a camp counselor but I was going to be Jason and he was the counselor. Why are the women ...
  • What I Would Say If I Were Going to Catcall a Man (Which I'm Not). By Mary Cella. November 28, 2018. Stock photo of a woman and a man jogging outside.
  • Sep 10, 2024 ... Yeah, if I were going to make any sort of non-consensus election bet it'd be a very small EC/PV gap, like maybe 1%.

Alternatives:

  • I was going.
  • I would be going.
  • If I were going.
  • If I had been going.
  • I had been going.

Related Comparisons

How TextRanch works

Fast and reliable proofreading, editing, and language advice tailored to your needs.

1. Choose Your Service

Quick Text Editing

  • Emails and short texts
  • Proofreading & editing
  • Ready in 5-10 minutes
SUBMIT YOUR TEXT NOW

Document Editing

  • Documents of any type (*.docx)
  • Advanced & Premium editing
  • Ready in as little as 4 hours
UPLOAD YOUR DOCUMENT

Ask an Editor

  • Personalized answers to your language questions
  • Expert guidance on grammar, style, and usage
  • Ready in 24 hours
ASK YOUR QUESTION

Upload your document or paste your text directly into our platform. Your text is reviewed and refined by our expert editors (real people, not machines) who understand the nuances of English. Expect corrections, improvements, and insightful suggestions that enhance the clarity, tone, and professionalism of your writing.

In just a few minutes (or hours for longer documents), you'll receive your corrected text. Review the changes, make any final adjustments, and confidently share your polished English with the world.
You can count on a personalized, friendly service every time you use TextRanch. We're committed to helping you make a great impression with every word you write.

We proofread and edit these types of texts and documents:

Short texts Business Emails Personal Emails Social media posts Resume and Curriculum Vitae Business documents Sales proposal Research and academic papers Thesis Dissertation Essays Articles Blog posts and much more....

Powered By Humans

TextRanch Editors

AI is a great tool, but when it comes to perfecting your writing, we rely on real human editors.

  • All our editors are native English speakers.
  • Each editor has passed a rigorous admission test to ensure quality.
  • Our global team is ready to correct any text, anytime.

MEET OUR EDITORS

TextRanch Editors

Why choose TextRanch?

Complete Privacy

Your texts are safe and secure with us. We never share your information with third parties.

Affordable Pricing

No subscription fees and rates up to 50% cheaper than other online editing services.

100% Satisfaction

We guarantee that you'll be satisfied with the quality of our service or your money back.

Top Customer Service

Our team is here to help you with any questions you may have. Contact us anytime.

Our Customers Love Us!

We have an average rating of 4.79 stars based on 283125 votes, and

People Feedback 4.9 Excellent - Reviews 2.137

"7 years without any disappointment. Always 100% satisfied. You guys are the best in the world at what you do. Thank you so much :)"

Profile picture of Zubair from Bangladesh

Zubair
from Bangladesh From

"I wasn't aware of this service, it's fascinating and more reliable than standard IA tools available on the internet"

Profile picture of Arturo from Mexico

Arturo
from Mexico From

"In a world of text messages and online communication, this is great to have as a live tool. Thank you."

Profile picture of Selena from USA

Selena
from USA From

"Wow, it's just so excellent. I never would have believed I could have a sure and excellent English companion. Thanks, TextRanch."

Profile picture of Ifiok from Nigeria

Ifiok
from Nigeria From

"This is my first time using TextRanch, and I like how the editors take time to correct my text. To everyone who has never used TextRanch before, I highly recommend trying it."

Profile picture of Wilson from France

Wilson
from France From

"It is an amazing source of feedback because, as a non-native speaker, I really need to have a reliable helper correct my text."

Profile picture of Susan from Germany

Susan
from Germany From

Trusted by Hundreds Teams

Facebook logo
Accenture logo
Air Asia logo
AirBus logo
Amazon logo
Bayer logo
Decathlon logo
Docusign logo
Ebay logo
Fiverr logo
Fossil logo
Keller Williams logo
LinkedIn logo
Loreal logo
Motorola logo
Orange logo
Roche logo
Salesforce logo
Stellantis logo