I was playing a child. vs I was playing a children.

The correct phrase is "I was playing with a child." The first phrase is incorrect because it is missing the preposition "with" before "a child." The second phrase is also incorrect because the plural form "children" does not match the singular verb "was playing."

Last updated: March 25, 2024 • 730 views

This phrase is incorrect. It is missing the preposition "with" before "a child."

"I was playing a child."

The correct phrase is "I was playing with a child." Use the preposition "with" to indicate who you were playing with.

Show examples from the web [+]

You know, like she was playing with another child.
I bet you liked playing doctor as a child.
And I thought you could do the whole thing with the same actors playing mother and child.
Look at you, a child playing detective.
He will wear the purple as he wears armor, like a child playing at grownups.
And Gary was playing the cheeky chappy, just like I used to play little Shirley Temple when I was a child and my father had his breakdowns.
I've been playing on this well since I was a child.
I was playing a marathon round of Halo, woman.
I was playing a game yesterday.
I was playing a role to win the game.
He thought I was playing a game.
I know. I was playing a virtual reality simulation...
I was playing a role. It's not me.
Nothing. I was playing a game on my phone.
I had a bit of a scare While I was playing a game of scattergories with my niece.
I was playing a long game.
I was playing a long game. Deadlines have been moved up.
Night before this happened, I was playing a table stakes game With daniel, her husband.
Actually, I was playing a hot hand of stud poker when I got the call.
You ignored me for weeks this summer. I was playing a marathon round of Halo, woman.

Alternatives:

I was playing with a child.
I was playing with my child.
I was playing with the children.
I was playing with some children.
I was playing with the neighbor's child.

This phrase is incorrect. The plural form "children" does not match the singular verb "was playing."

"I was playing a children."

The correct phrase should be "I was playing with children." Use the plural form of "children" to match the verb tense.

Show examples from the web [+]

Up to 30% of cluster munitions fail to explode and remain on the ground as unexploded bombs, where they later explode when disturbed perhaps by playing children.
- He's playing with your children.
Mother and Father don't like us playing with regular children.
The dog landed in a children's playing field.
they were children playing a game.
If you'd seen him, you know, playing with his children.
You're like children playing house.
It almost sounds like children playing.
There were wonderful schools, with children playing.
Coming over on the launch, I saw some children playing.
I believe I said some years ago that compared to national parliaments we were like children playing shop.
When I opened the window, I saw children playing baseball.
- ...And field recordings of children playing.
You hate the sound of children playing.
Further on, at the end of the garden, there are children playing.
Mr President, outdoor public areas used to be, above all, the domain of pedestrians and children playing.
We were just... children... playing house.
And your children are playing instruments.
PEGI provides specific age ratings and content descriptors, enabling parents to better know and control what their children are playing.
So Mr. Apostolou came down to where the children were playing.

Alternatives:

I was playing with children.
I was playing with some children.
I was playing with the children.
I was playing with my children.
I was playing with the neighbor's children.

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I was playing a child. vs I was playing a children.