Understanding the Afrikaans Past Continuous Tense
The past continuous tense in Afrikaans is used to describe actions that were ongoing or happening continuously in the past. It's like saying something was happening while something else was also happening.
Important Points
- Use 'was' to indicate the past tense.
- Combine 'was' with a verb ending in '-ing' to show the continuous action.
- You can also use 'besig om' followed by 'te' and the verb to emphasize the ongoing nature.
To form the past continuous tense, you start with the subject (like I, you, he, she), add 'was', and then use the verb with '-ing' or 'besig om te'. This shows that someone was in the middle of doing something in the past.
Examples
- Ek was besig om te speel toe dit begin reën.
- Sy was singende toe die telefoon lui.
- Ons was besig om te leer toe die krag afgaan.
Remember, the past continuous tense helps us talk about what was happening at a specific time in the past. It's very useful for telling stories or explaining what you were doing.