The expression “I was busy + (verb-ing)” is commonly employed to convey that the speaker was engaged in an activity in the past. This structure is crafted by merging the past tense of the verb “to be” (was/were) with the adjective “busy” and the present participle of the verb (-ing form).
How to Construct Sentences with 'Busy' + '-ing' for Effective Communication
Structure: Subject + was/were + busy + verb-ing
Examples:
- I was busy studying for my exams.
- She was busy working on her project.
- We were busy preparing dinner.
- He was busy fixing his car.
- They were busy cleaning the house.
- She was busy cooking dinner when the phone rang.
- The children were busy playing in the park all afternoon.
- He is busy studying for his exams next week.
- They were busy cleaning the house before the guests arrived.
- The team is busy preparing for the upcoming match.
- I was busy writing reports all morning.
- She has been busy organizing her closet for hours.
- The students were busy researching for their project.
- He seems busy working on his laptop.
- They were busy discussing the project in the meeting.
Understanding Sentences: Meaning and Significance Explained Through Examples
Sentence | Meaning |
---|---|
I was busy studying for my exams. | Indicates that the speaker was occupied with exam preparation. |
She was busy working on her project. | Indicates that she was engaged in her project work. |
We were busy preparing dinner. | Indicates that we were occupied with dinner preparation. |
He was busy fixing his car. | Indicates that he was occupied with repairing his car. |
They were busy cleaning the house. | Indicates that they were engaged in cleaning the house. |
This table provides examples illustrating the structure “Subject + was/were + busy + verb-ing” along with their respective meanings.
Exercise Using Busy
- The chef __________ himself in the kitchen, preparing a delicious meal.
- Despite being __________, he always finds time to help others.
- The office was __________ with activity as everyone prepared for the meeting.
- She __________ herself in her studies and achieved excellent grades.
- The children __________ themselves with games and laughter in the park.
- He __________ his time by taking on multiple projects simultaneously.
- The factory workers __________ themselves to meet the deadline.
- They __________ their efforts to complete the project ahead of schedule.
- The artist __________ himself in his latest masterpiece.
- The students __________ themselves with the new assignment.
- We __________ ourselves with cleaning the house before the guests arrived.
- She __________ herself in her hobby of painting during the weekends.
- The team __________ themselves for the upcoming competition.
- The city streets were __________ with traffic during rush hour.
- Despite being __________, he always finds time to spend with his family.
- The company __________ itself with innovative ideas to stay ahead in the market.
- The professor __________ himself in research to publish a groundbreaking paper.
- They __________ themselves in the task at hand, ignoring all distractions.
- The volunteers __________ themselves to help those in need during the crisis.
- She __________ herself with learning a new language in her free time.
- The employees __________ themselves with decorating the office for the holiday party.
- She __________ herself with her work all day yesterday. (busied)
- I am __________ preparing for my exams next week. (busy)
- The streets were __________ with people during the festival. (busy)
- They __________ their time wisely while waiting for the bus. (busied)
- We were too __________ to notice the time passing by. (busy)
What is the past tense of Busy
Form | Verb |
---|---|
Present Simple | busy |
Past Simple | busied |
Present Participle | busying |
Past Participle | busied |
How to use Busied in Examples
- She busied herself with tidying up the room.
- They busied themselves with preparations for the party.
- He busied himself with researching for his project.
- The students busied themselves with completing their assignments.
- We busied ourselves with packing for the trip.
- The chef busied himself with creating a new recipe.
- She busied herself with answering emails and returning phone calls.
- As the deadline approached, the team busied themselves with finalizing the report.
- Despite the rain, the gardener busied himself with planting new flowers.
- Instead of resting, she busied herself with volunteering at the local shelter.
How To Use Busy with Different Tenses
Sentence | Form |
---|---|
I am busy with my work. | Present |
She was busy studying for her exams. | Past |
They will be busy preparing for the event. | Future |
He has been busy all day. | Present perfect |
We had been busy before you arrived. | Past perfect |
You will have been busy for a while by then. | Future perfect |
Keep quiet; I am busying myself with this task. | Present participle |
She busied herself with cleaning the house. | Past participle |
Excercise using busy with verb 'ing'
- She was ________ (cook) dinner when the phone rang.
- They are ________ (work) on a new project this week.
- I will be ________ (study) for my exams tomorrow.
- He was ________ (read) a book when the doorbell rang.
- We were ________ (watch) a movie when the power went out.
- The kids are ________ (play) outside in the garden.
- She has been ________ (paint) the house all day.
- They will be ________ (travel) to Europe next month.
- The team is ________ (prepare) for the upcoming match.
- He was ________ (fix) the car when it started raining.
FAQ
What does “busy” mean?
“Busy” describes a situation or a person who is actively occupied with or involved in work or a task.
How do you use “busy” in a sentence?
Example: “I am too busy to attend the meeting.”
What is the past tense of “busy”?
The past tense of “busy” is “busied.”
Can “busy” be used as a verb?
Yes, “busy” can be used as a verb, such as “to busy oneself with a task.”
What is the opposite of “busy”?
The opposite of “busy” can be “idle” or “unoccupied.”
Is “busy” a formal word?
“Busy” is not overly formal and can be used in both casual and formal contexts.
How do you pronounce “busy”?
“Busy” is pronounced as /ˈbɪzi/.
Can “busy” be used to describe a place?
Yes, “busy” can be used to describe a place that is full of activity or people.
Are there synonyms for “busy”?
Synonyms for “busy” include occupied, engaged, bustling, and active.
Can “busy” be used to describe a person’s mind?
Yes, “busy” can be used to describe a person’s mind that is preoccupied or full of thoughts.