[General] I was busying cooking....

[kompstar]

Is the sentnece below correct?

I was busying cooking when the phone rang.

 

[emsr2d2]

No. Although you can "busy yourself doing something", we don't use "busy" as a verb like this. It's usually an adjective.

I was busy cooking when the phone rang.

I was busy.
Doing what?
Cooking.

 

[kompstar]

"I was busy cooking when the phone rang." <- and is this sentence correct?
.

 

[emsr2d2]

Do you think I would have suggested an incorrect sentence?

 

[kompstar]

....

 

[kompstar]

Are the sentences below correct? I'm asking because I don't quite understand....

1. I busied myself with cooking when the phone rang.
2. I was busying myself with cooking when the phone rang.
3. I wanted to busy washing up, but everyone would disturb me.

 

[bhaisahab]

Only #2 is correct. I don't find it very natural, though.

 

[Matthew Wai]

Would #3 be correct if it was rewritten as 'I wanted to do the washing-up, but everyone was disturbing me.'?

Not a teacher.

 

[bhaisahab]

Yes.