There were three girls jumping rope. 既然用过去式的话就是过去进行时。
There were three girls,they were skipping rope.
Three girls were skipping rope.
句子用过去进行时,动词be用过去式,行为动词用其现在分词。
时态错了,“正在” 应该是一般现在时有三个女孩正在跳绳。There are three girls jumping rope.