The Past Progressive tense is used to describe an action that was happening at a specific time in the past. The formula is: was/were + verb-ing. For example, 'I was playing football at 5 pm yesterday'.
Neno la Past Progressive hutumiwa kuelezea kitendo kilichokuwa kikitendeka wakati fulani uliopita. Fomula ni: was/were + verb-ing. Kwa mfano, 'Nilikuwa nikicheza mpira wa miguu saa 5 jioni ya jana'.
Mifano & Matamshi
The teacher was writing on the board when the students arrived.
Mwalimu alikuwa anandika kwenye bamba alipofika wanafunzi.
Showing an action in progress
They were playing football in the field.
Walikuwa wakicheza mpira wa miguu kwenye uwanja.
Describing a past action
I was eating ugali when my mother called me.
Nilikuwa nakula ugali aliponipigia simu mama yangu.
Showing a past action interrupted
was eating
alikuwa akila
action
were running
walikuwa wakikimbia
action
was watching
alikuwa akitaangaza
action
were studying
walikuwa wakisoma
action
was writing
alikuwa akandika
action
were dancing
walikuwa wakicheza
action
was singing
alikuwa akimba
action
were playing
walikuwa wakicheza
action
was reading
alikuwa akisoma
action
were listening
walikuwa wakisikiliza
action
was playing
alikuwa akicheza
action
Zoezi: Tamka mifano hii
Soma Zaidi
Mfano (Example) 1
Yesterday, I was walking to school when I saw my friend. She was eating a mandazi from the market. We were chatting until the teacher arrived.
Jana, nilikuwa nikitembea shuleni nilipomwona rafiki yangu. Alikuwa anakula mandazi ya soko. Tulikuwa tukiongea mpaka mwalimu alipofika.
Maelezo (Detail)
In the sentence I was walking to school, was walking is the Past Progressive tense. This is because it describes an action that was happening at a specific time in the past. Alternative examples include They were playing or She was reading.
Katika sentensi Nilikuwa nikitembea shuleni, nilikuwa nikitembea ni neno la Past Progressive. Hii ni kwa sababu inaelezea kitendo kilichokuwa kikitendeka wakati fulani uliopita. Mifano mingine ni Walikuwa wakicheza au Alikuwa anasoma.
Mfano (Example) 2
Hadija was studying at the library in Mtwara.
Hadija alikuwa akisoma katika maktaba huko Mtwara.
Maelezo (Detail)
In the sentence Hadija was studying, was studying describes the action Hadija was doing. It tells us what she was doing at that time. We can also use was reading, was writing or was listening.
Katika sentensi Hadija was studying, was studying inaelezea kitendo ambacho Hadija alikuwa akifanya. Hutuambia nini alikuwa akifanya wakati huo. Tunaweza pia kutumia was reading, was writing au was listening.
Mfano (Example) 3
Ivan was playing football with his friends in Musoma.
Ivan alikuwa akicheza mpira wa miguu na marafiki zake huko Musoma.
Maelezo (Detail)
In Ivan was playing football, was playing describes the action Ivan was doing. It tells us what he was doing at that time. Alternatives: was running, was jumping or was swimming.
Katika Ivan was playing football, was playing inaelezea kitendo ambacho Ivan alikuwa akifanya. Mbadala: was running, was jumping au was swimming.
Mfano (Example) 4
Peter was eating ugali at home in Dar es Salaam.
Peter alikuwa akila ugali nyumbani huko Dar es Salaam.
Maelezo (Detail)
In Peter was eating ugali, was eating describes the action Peter was doing. It tells us what he was doing at that time. We can also use was drinking, was sleeping or was watching.
Katika Peter was eating ugali, was eating inaelezea kitendo ambacho Peter alikuwa akifanya. Hutuambia nini alikuwa akifanya wakati huo. Tunaweza pia kutumia was drinking, was sleeping au was watching.
Mfano (Example) 5
Ruta was helping her mother in the shamba.
Ruta alikuwa akimsaidia mama yake shambani.
Maelezo (Detail)
In Ruta was helping, was helping describes the action Ruta was doing. It tells us what she was doing at that time. Alternatives: was cooking, was cleaning or was gardening.
Katika Ruta was helping, was helping inaelezea kitendo ambacho Ruta alikuwa akifanya. Mbadala: was cooking, was cleaning au was gardening.
Maswali
1
Identify the verb in the Past Progressive tense in the sentence below: (Tambua kiti kitendaji cha wakati uliopita katika sentensi ifuatayo:)
My brother was studying for his exams when I called him.
Kaka yangu alikuwa anasoma kwa ajili ya mtihani wake aliponipigia simu.
was studying
2
Complete the sentence: I _______ my homework at 7 pm yesterday.
Kwa sababu ni kitendo kilichokuwa kikitendeka wakati fulani uliopita
3
Choose the correct sentence: a) I go to school at 7 am, b) I was going to school at 7 am yesterday, c) I go to school at 7 am yesterday
Kwa sababu inaonyesha kitendo kilichokuwa kikitendeka wakati fulani uliopita
4
Find the error in the sentence: 'I was go to the market when I saw my friend.', and correct it.
Kwa sababu 'go' si sahihi katika muktadha huu, inahitaji 'going'
5
Choose the correct verb form: I _______ my homework at 8 pm yesterday.
nilikuwa nikifanya ni sahihi.
6
Complete the sentence: They _______ their project at 5 pm yesterday.
walikuwa wakifanya kazi kwenye ni sahihi.
7
Read the sentence aloud: Hadija was studying for her exams at 8 pm last night.
Soma kwa sauti: Hadija was studying for her exams at 8 pm last night.
somaa sentensi hii kwa sauti.
8
Identify the verb in the past progressive tense: Ivan was playing football with his friends at 5 pm yesterday.
alikuwa akicheza ni sahihi.
9
Correct the sentence: Me and my friends go to the beach at 5 pm yesterday.
tengeneza sentensi hii.
10
Choose the correct verb form: _______ you watching TV at 8 pm yesterday?
ulikuwa ukitaangaza ni sahihi.
11
Complete the sentence: They _______ not working on their project at 5 pm yesterday.