He asked me what I was doing there

[paul yamashi]

Test No. incompl/inter-91 "Tenses (2)", question 3

He asked me what I ......... doing there.

(a) am
(b) did
(c) will be
(d) was

Test No. incompl/inter-91 "Tenses (2)", answer 3

He asked me what I was doing there.

Correct answer: (d) was

Your answer was: incorrect
He asked me what I am doing there.
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this sentence i don't clear.please can you explain it for me,why is uses was and why it isn't use did

[Mosteque]

this is indirect speech and you have to change the tense
Look:

I am working in the garden.
Paul told Susan that I WAS working in the garden

I was working in the garden yesterday
What did you say??
I said that I had been working in the garden the day before.

I will work tomorrow
what??
I said I would work the next day

I'd recommend you taking some tests on inderect speech
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obsequium amicos, veritas odium parit

[Alan]

To answer your question Paul Yamashi: In this sentence you have to complete the verb doing and the only possible auxiliary is was to form the Past Continuous. You couldn't say: did doing because did as an auxiliary is used in questions: Did you understand? and negatives: I didn't understand where the main verb understand is in the infinitive form.
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Rich7]

I may add that you have to notice that the fisrt verb is in the past tense so you have to continue with the same tense.

By the way it has a name I can not recall, Does anyone do?

[Rich7]

Sorry, a HUGE MISTAKE I should have asked : CAN ANYBODY?

[Rich7]

ok. it just came to mind:"verb ageement"

[Rich7]

This time was my keyboard "verb agreement"

[Mosteque]

Rich7.... if I only knew what you meant :P
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obsequium amicos, veritas odium parit

[Kati Svaby]

This is the same case the previou. Was. Indirect speech.isn'it?

[Kati Svaby]

same tha the previous case: after we asked (past) we have to harmonize the next verb.