Example sentences of "was [v-ing] [adv] [verb] [art] [adj] " in BNC.

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1 ‘ I was going home to get a new hearing-aid .
2 The House of Commons was moving forward to assert a greater degree of control over the colonies than before ; partly to evade this , William created a Board of Trade and Plantations , made up of civil servants and privy councillors , that was unlikely to pay much more attention to the Commons than its predecessor , the Lords of Trade , had done .
3 Michael Stein was trying unsuccessfully to calm an irate customer who was arguing about his bill .
4 ‘ But if they 're given money for the food … ’ the Substitute was trying vainly to put a bouncing lighter to his cigar .
5 Benedicta was trying hard to keep a straight face .
6 I was trying hard to absorb the bizarre happenings of the day .
7 He was working hard to complete a special project for Friday , and had already told her he would give her a hand at the weekend .
8 Dr Rolleston was retiring quietly to let a younger man prepare for what we were beginning to think was inevitable .
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