Chapter 6: Expressing Past Time (Part 2) / Boqonnaa 6: Yeroo Darbe Ibsuu (Kutaa 2)
This chapter covers the past progressive tense. / Boqonnaan kun yeroo darbe itti fufaa irratti xiyyeeffata.
The Past Progressive: WAS/WERE + -ING / Yeroo Darbe Itti Fufaa: WAS/WERE + -ING
The past progressive describes an activity that was in progress (was happening) at a specific point in time in the past. / Yeroon darbe itti fufaan gocha yeroo darbe keessatti yeroo murtaa'e tokkotti raawwatamaa ture ibsa.
(a) I was walking home when I saw my friend.
Yeroon gara manaatti deemaa ture, hiriyaa koo arge.
(b) At 8:00 last night, we were studying.
Kaleessa galgala sa'aatii 8:00 irratti, nuti qubachaa turre.
| Form / Boca | Example / Fakkeenya |
|---|---|
| I / She / He / It was + -ing | I was eating. |
| We / You / They were + -ing | They were playing. |
Simple Past vs. Past Progressive / Yeroo Darbe Salphaa fi Yeroo Darbe Itti Fufaa Walbira Qabuu
Simple Past: Used for an action that began and ended in the past. / Gocha yeroo darbe keessatti eegalamee xumurame ibsuuf fayyada.
I walked to school yesterday.
Past Progressive: Used for an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past. It often shows a longer background action interrupted by a shorter action (in simple past). / Gocha yeroo darbe keessatti yeroo murtaa'e tokkotti raawwatamaa tureef fayyada. Yeroo baay'ee gocha dheeraa kan gocha gabaabaan (yeroo darbe salphaan) addaan citu agarsiisa.
I was walking to school when it started to rain.
Negative with Past Progressive / Hima Didaa Yeroo Darbe Itti Fufaa
Use was not (wasn't) or were not (weren't). / Fayyadami: was not (wasn't) ykn were not (weren't).
(a) I wasn't sleeping when you called.
(b) They weren't playing soccer at 3 PM.
Yes/No Questions with Past Progressive / Gaaffii Eyyee/Lakkii Yeroo Darbe Itti Fufaa
To ask a question, start with Was or Were. / Gaaffii gaafachuuf, Was ykn Were dura buusi.
(a) Were you studying last night? → Yes, I was. / No, I wasn't.
Kaleessa galgala qubachaa turtee? → Eeyyee, nan ture. / Lakki, hin turre.
(b) Was he working at 10 AM? → Yes, he was. / No, he wasn't.
Sa'aatii 10:00 irratti hojjechaa turee? → Eeyyee, ture. / Lakki, hin turre.