she is cleaning vs she was cleaning

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'She is cleaning' is in the present tense, indicating an action that is happening right now. 'She was cleaning' is in the past tense, indicating an action that was happening at a specific point in the past.

Last updated: March 22, 2024 • 2447 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate an action happening in the present.

"she is cleaning"

Use 'she is cleaning' to describe an action that is currently taking place. This phrase is in the present tense.

Examples:

She is cleaning the kitchen.
He is cleaning his car.

Show examples from the web [+]

I think she is a cleaning lady here.
She isn't a cleaning woman.
Is she cleaning the cat with her tongue?
She is not a real cleaning woman.
And she is also on cafeteria cleaning detail - For the next two weeks.
Frances is cleaning her trolley and Phyl is sitting on the steps.
Heists are like parties... the wort part is cleaning up.
The hardest part is cleaning up afterwards.
Is cleaning more important than me?
Mr. Nigel-Murray is cleaning the bones as we speak.
Mike's job at home is cleaning the windows.
Whoever's behind the attacks is cleaning up as they go.
All they care about is cleaning their image and looking good in front of clients.
And that's her job, is cleaning the poles.
You know, believe or not, riding your backs is not the only thing I live for, and neither is cleaning up your mess.
I think Arush is cleaning house to help you
Window cleaning and cleaning in private households.
Suitable equipment and cleaning agents must be provided for cleaning.
Because I was here cleaning your toilet.
And that cost includes labor and cleaning supplies.

Alternatives:

She cleans
She is in the process of cleaning
She is engaged in cleaning
She is currently cleaning
She is tidying up

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate an action that was happening in the past.

"she was cleaning"

Use 'she was cleaning' to describe an action that was taking place at a specific point in the past. This phrase is in the past tense.

Examples:

She was cleaning the house when I arrived.
He said she was cleaning the dishes.

Show examples from the web [+]

And while she was cleaning his room, she discovered a hidden letter addressed to Joyce.
She said she was cleaning out some drawers the night before last and come across a picture she had taken of you and me when we first started going together.
A friend of my granny's used to clean houses, and this one time she was cleaning this room of this guy that died.
The Goya she was cleaning... rather simple job, wouldn't you say?
She was cleaning up her tracks, eliminating witnesses.
She was cleaning teeth at the time of the murder.
~ When I got up, she was still cleaning up.
She was running a cleaning route. Doubling back on herself, checking for shadows.
She explained that she was there cleaning the river of odd bits of rubbish (plastic bottles and beer cans carried down by the current), but that her true passion were horses.
'It was the day before Halloween, and this woman, Joan or Joy, was trying to sell her house. 'It'd been on the market for weeks, but she was rubbish at cleaning and they couldn't shift it.'
A woman was cleaning a car...
When I was cleaning up your blood.
I was cleaning and I let him in.
I was cleaning my rifle and I waved it around.
I was cleaning up the apartment a couple years ago...
I mean, he was cleaning up here.
You know, I was cleaning the bathroom this week...
He was cleaning the place out, and he found three finished canvases.
When she woke up, he was cleaning the place.
It was cleaning up loose ends.

Alternatives:

She cleaned
She had been cleaning
She had cleaned
She was engaged in cleaning
She was in the process of cleaning

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she is cleaning vs she was cleaning

"she is cleaning"

"she was cleaning"

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