Step 7 · الخطوة 7
Past Continuous
الماضي المستمر
Learning objective · هدف الدرس
I can describe an action in progress in the past, often interrupted by another action.
أستطيع وصف حدث كان مستمرًا في الماضي، وغالبًا قطعه حدث آخر.
WHAT? · What is the grammar point?
ما هي القاعدة؟Use the past continuous (was/were + verb-ing) for an action that was in progress at a moment in the past. It is often used with the past simple: the long action (past continuous) is interrupted by a short action (past simple).
RULE
القاعدة- I / He / She / It + was + verb-ing
- You / We / They + were + verb-ing
- Long action (was -ing) + when + short action (past simple)
- while + long action
EXAMPLES · How do we use it?
أمثلةCommon mistake
خطأ شائع✗ They was playing.
✓ They were playing.
مع They نستخدم were.
✗ I was watching TV when the light was going off.
✓ I was watching TV when the light went off.
الحدث القصير المفاجئ بالماضي البسيط.
PRACTICE · Guided practice
تدريب موجّهFill in the blank · أكمل الفراغ
1. We ___ (walk) in the souq when we met our teacher.
Fill in the blank · أكمل الفراغ
2. He was sleeping when the phone ___.
3. Identify the rule: 'While I was studying, my brother was playing.'
Independent practice
تدريب مستقلShort answer · إجابة قصيرة
1. Combine with 'when': 'I was swimming. I saw a turtle.'
CHECK · Self-check test
اختبر نفسكFill in the blank · أكمل الفراغ
1. What ___ you doing at 9 o'clock last night?
True / False · صح أم خطأ
2. True or False: The short, interrupting action uses the past continuous.
Practice freely — nothing is saved.تدرّب بحرية، لا يتم حفظ أي إجابة أو نتيجة.
Next: Step 7 · First Conditional →