the "shite" dilemma

[urbanegloss2037]

I have a problem with this sentence:

ショッピングをしていた
shoppingu o shite ita

in the sentence above, what does "shite" mean? and what is it's equivalent in English?

is it like was/were?

why can't it be "shoppingu o ita"? is it still grammatically correct? why or why not?

this is the only part that's confusing so far.


hope someone can enlighten me on this:(

[bipolarsun]

"shite" is the 'te' form of 'sure', the verb 'to do'. The suru added to the noun shopping makes it a verb.
I

[jkid]

"shite" is the 'te' form of 'sure'

It's actually the te form of suru.

[rodostajin1691]

Yes, it is the -te form of suru. And the ita is added to the word shite to show that you were doing it (shopping).

[urbanegloss2037]

thanks for the info!