What is the difference between "The houses were decorated" and "The houses were being decorated"?

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Amogha Dalvi

English Communication

First, let's look at the similarity. In both the sentences, the action has already occurred. This is denoted by the verb "decorated." The word decorated is in the past. Now, let's look at the difference. In the first sentence, 'the houses were decorated,' the person witnessed the action completed....
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First, let's look at the similarity. In both the sentences, the action has already occurred. This is denoted by the verb "decorated." The word decorated is in the past. Now, let's look at the difference. In the first sentence, 'the houses were decorated,' the person witnessed the action completed. The person saw these houses in their decorated state (when the action of decoration was complete.) In the second sentence, "the houses were being decorated," the person is witnessing the process of the action. The person is actually seeing people decorate houses, and they are not completely decorated when the person was seeing them. Please also look up Simple Past Tense vs Past Continous Tense. read less
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Tutor

The houses were decorated" and " The houses were decorated means some persons had decorated the houses that means that the decoration was completed so it is said as The houses were decorated.(this is known as past tense written in passive voice) whereas in the sentence “The houses were being decorated"...
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The houses were decorated" and " The houses were decorated means some persons had decorated the houses that means that the decoration was completed so it is said as The houses were decorated.(this is known as past tense written in passive voice) whereas in the sentence “The houses were being decorated" it is meant that the decoration for the houses were continuously done and not finished totally. This is known as past perfect continuous tense in The houses were decorated" and " The houses were decorated" and " The houses were decorated means some persons had decorated the houses that means that the decoration was completed so it is said as The houses were decorated.(this is known as past tense written in passive voice) whereas in the sentence “The houses were being decorated" it is meant that the decoration for the houses were continuously done and not finished totally. This is known as past perfect continuous tense in grammar. Renukasundaram read less
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Tutor

In the first sentence , WERE is a verb (past tense of be) whereas in the second sentence BEING is the past participle form of the verb be. Hope this answers your questions.
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English Teacher

Former is a sentence in past tense and latter is in past continuous
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the houses were decorated refers to the past tense that is its already been done and the houses sere being decorated refers to continous past tense that the work was been happening and now is completed.
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Experienced teacher in all subjects

The houses were decorated is a past tense which means the decoration work is complete. And houses are being decorated means the process pf decorations is still on. Its past continuous.
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