past perf. cont. tense

[ridvann]

Hello,

Yesterday, when you called me, I was a little bit busy, I had been trying to repairing my phone until 5:00 pm. Sorry for that.

vs

Yesterday, when you called me, I was a little bit busy, I was trying to repairing my phone until 5:00 pm. Sorry for that.

Which one is better to use? Thanks...

 

[konungursvia]

Both are correct, and the choice would depend on whether the speaker wanted to show that the call and the repair work were at different times, (case 1), or whether the speaker wishes to portray them as happening concurrently (case 2).

 

[ridvann]

Thanks... Which one must be used if it depends on whether the speaker wanted to show that the call and the repair work were at different times as you have said.

 

[bhaisahab]

Hello,

Yesterday, when you called me, I was a little bit busy, I had been trying to repairing my phone until 5:00 pm. Sorry for that.

vs

Yesterday, when you called me, I was a little bit busy, I was trying to repairing my phone until 5:00 pm. Sorry for that.

Which one is better to use? Thanks...

The parts marked in red are incorrect.

 

[konungursvia]

Thank you, I hadn't read closely enough.

 

[ridvann]

I couldn't get that...Why? Could you please fix it?

 

[konungursvia]

You can't say "to fixing" in that way. It's "trying to fix."

 

[shannico]

Try holds either to+infinitive or the gerund. It depends on the meaning of your sentence.

I would say
I'd been trying to + infinitive in this case.
Hope it helps

 

[ridvann]

Yesterday, when you called me, I was a little bit busy, I had been trying to repair my phone until 5:00 pm. Sorry for that.

vs

Yesterday, when you called me, I was a little bit busy, I was trying to repair my phone until 5:00 pm. Sorry for that.

Sorry, I wrote it mistake. Could you please check which one is ok? Past perfect con. or past cont. in this case?

 

[bhaisahab]

Yesterday, when you called me, I was a little bit busy, I had been trying to repair my phone until 5:00 pm. Sorry for that.

vs

Yesterday, when you called me, I was a little bit busy, I was trying to repair my phone until 5:00 pm. Sorry for that.

Sorry, I made a mistake. Could you please check which one is OK? Past perfect con. or past cont. in this case?

I wouldn't use the past perfect there. Honestly, I don't find either to be a natural utterance.

 

[5jj]

I wouldn't use the past perfect there. Honestly, I don't find either to be a natural utterance.

I agree.

Ridvann, your sentences suggest that you were busy at the time of the call,, but then say that you were/had been repairing your phone until a time before the call. The two seem to be unrelated.