A2 · مقدماتی فصل 6

داشتم چکار می‌کردم؟ مهارت قصه‌گویی در گذشته

3 مجموع قواعد
34 مثال‌ها
4 دقیقه
قواعد این فصل تمرین سریع

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Learn how to describe ongoing scenes and interrupted moments in your past stories.

  • Build the Past Continuous tense using was/were and the -ing form.
  • Describe background actions that provide context to your memories.
  • Connect long actions with sudden events using the word 'when'.
Capture the moment: Tell stories that feel alive.

چی یاد می‌گیری

تا حالا شده بخوای برای کسی تعریف کنی که وقتی یه اتفاق عجیب افتاد، تو دقیقاً داشتی چیکار می‌کردی؟ خب، تو تا الان بلدی بگی «رفتم» یا «خوردم»، اما از اینجا به بعد قراره یاد بگیری چطوری مثل یه قصه‌گوی حرفه‌ای، صحنه رو توصیف کنی! توی این فصل می‌ریم سراغ زمان «گذشته استمراری» یا همون Past Continuous. اول از همه یاد می‌گیریم چطوری با was و were و اضافه کردن ing به فعل، جمله‌هایی بسازیم که نشون می‌دن یه کاری توی گذشته «در جریان» بوده. مثلاً وقتی می‌خوای بگی «داشتم کتاب می‌خوندم». بعدش یاد می‌گیریم چطوری از این ساختار برای فضاسازی استفاده کنیم؛ مثلاً وقتی داری تعریف می‌کنی که «هوا داشت تاریک می‌شد و پرنده‌ها داشتن آواز می‌خوندن». اما جذاب‌ترین بخش جاییه که یاد می‌گیری چطوری دو تا اتفاق رو به هم وصل کنی. مثلاً وقتی یه کار طولانی با یه اتفاق ناگهانی قطع می‌شه. فرض کن می‌خوای به دوستت بگی: «داشتم دوش می‌گرفتم که تلفنم زنگ خورد!» اینجاست که از کلمه‌ی when استفاده می‌کنیم تا به قصه‌مون هیجان و دقت بدیم. آخر این فصل، تو دیگه فقط گزارش نمی‌دی، بلکه می‌تونی با جزئیات کامل تعریف کنی که تو و دوستات در گذشته مشغول چه کارهایی بودین و چی شد که اون کارها قطع شدن. آماده‌ای که سطح انگلیسی‌ت رو یه پله ببری بالاتر؟ پس بزن بریم!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to conjugate any regular verb in the Past Continuous for all subjects.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to describe a setting or atmosphere in the past (e.g., 'The sun was shining').
  3. 3
    By the end you will be able to explain why an action stopped using the 'Past Continuous + when + Past Simple' structure.

راهنمای فصل

مرور کلی

Imagine telling a story about your weekend, and instead of just saying
I ate breakfast, then I watched TV,
you could paint a vivid picture of the scene! That's exactly what you'll learn to do in this chapter. We're diving into English ongoing actions in the past, a super useful skill for A2 English grammar learners.
It helps you describe what was happening around you when something else took place, making your conversations much more interesting and natural.
This chapter is your key to unlocking more engaging past narratives. We'll focus on the Past Continuous tense – how to form it, how to use it to set the scene, and especially how to connect it with sudden events. Soon, you'll be able to describe what was happening when something exciting or unexpected happened, giving your stories a lot more depth.
Get ready to upgrade your storytelling skills and sound more like a native speaker!

این گرامر چطور کار می‌کنه

Let's break down how to talk about actions that were happening in the past. It all starts with the Past Continuous tense, which is like the background music of your past stories. To form it, you need the past form of to be (was or were) followed by the -ing form of the main verb.
For example,
I was walking
or
They were studying.
We use the Past Continuous to describe an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past. Think of it as painting the scene. If someone asks,
What were you doing at 8 PM yesterday?
you might say,
I was watching TV.
This tells us the action (watching TV) was ongoing at that moment.
Now, let's make it even more interesting! Sometimes, an ongoing action gets interrupted by a shorter, sudden event. This is where the Past Continuous meets the Past Simple.
We use the Past Continuous for the longer, background action, and the Past Simple for the short, interrupting action. For instance,
I was reading a book when my phone rang.
Here, reading was the ongoing action, and rang was the sudden interruption. Another example:
They were playing football when it started to rain.
The Past Continuous sets the scene, and the Past Simple brings the surprise.

اشتباهات رایج

Learning a new tense can have a few tricky spots, but don't worry, we'll clear them up!
  1. 1Using Past Simple for ongoing background actions:
✗ I watched TV when she called. (Sounds like you watched *all* the TV, then she called)
✓ I was watching TV when she called. (This means the TV show was ongoing when the call happened)
Explanation: Use Past Continuous to show the action was in progress.
  1. 1Incorrect formation of Past Continuous:
✗ She was walk to school.
✓ She was walking to school.
Explanation: Remember to add -ing to the main verb after was or were.
  1. 1Mixing up the tenses in interrupted actions:
✗ When I rang the bell, they were sleeping. (Implies *you* ringing was the ongoing action)
✓ When I rang the bell, they were sleeping. (The sleeping was ongoing; ringing was the interruption)
Explanation: The Past Simple describes the sudden interruption; the Past Continuous describes the longer, background action.

مکالمات واقعی

Here’s how these patterns sound in everyday chats:

A

A

Hey, what were you doing last night when I called you?
B

B

Oh, I was cooking dinner, so I didn't hear the phone!
A

A

I had a funny dream. I was flying over the city when suddenly I woke up.
B

B

Haha, that sounds exciting! I bet you wished you were still flying.
A

A

Sorry I'm late! I was driving here and I saw a small accident.
B

B

Oh no! Is everyone okay?

سؤالات رایج

Q

When should I use

was walking
instead of
walked
?

Use

was walking
when the action was in progress at a specific time in the past, or when it was interrupted. Use
walked
for a completed action in the past.

Q

Can I use while with the Past Continuous?

Yes!

While
is often used to show two actions happening at the same time in the past. For example:
I was studying while my brother was playing video games.

Q

What's the negative form of the Past Continuous?

Just add not after was or were: "I was not (wasn't) listening or They were not (weren't) working."

بافت فرهنگی

Native English speakers use the Past Continuous naturally to add detail and flow to their stories. It's especially common in informal conversations when describing anecdotes or sharing experiences. While the core grammar is universal across regions, the frequency of its use might slightly vary – some might use it more to elaborate on details.
It helps paint a picture and makes the listener feel more present in the past event being described, almost like they were there with you.

مثال‌های کلیدی (6)

1

I was sleeping when you called me.

خواب بودم وقتی بهم زنگ زدی.

گذشته استمراری: ساختار (was/were + ing)
2

We were watching Netflix all night.

ما تمام شب داشتیم نتفلیکس می‌دیدیم.

گذشته استمراری: ساختار (was/were + ing)
3

I was watching TV when you called.

داشتم تلویزیون می‌دیدم که زنگ زدی.

گذشته استمراری: چه اتفاقی در حال افتادن بود؟ (من داشتم تلویزیون تماشا می‌کردم)
4

They were studying for their exams all weekend.

اون‌ها تمام آخر هفته رو داشتن برای امتحان‌هاشون درس می‌خوندن.

گذشته استمراری: چه اتفاقی در حال افتادن بود؟ (من داشتم تلویزیون تماشا می‌کردم)
5

I was scrolling through TikTok when my boss messaged me.

داشتم توی تیک‌تاک می‌چرخیدم که رئیسم بهم پیام داد.

گذشته استمراری: کارهای قطع شده (was/were -ing + when)
6

She was taking a selfie when a bird flew into the shot.

داشت سلفی می‌گرفت که یه پرنده پرید توی کادر.

گذشته استمراری: کارهای قطع شده (was/were -ing + when)

نکات و ترفندها (3)

💡

قانون فیلم‌نامه!

تصور کن داری یه فیلم می‌بینی. Past Continuous مثل صحنه «پس‌زمینه» فیلمه. بهت میگه قبل از اینکه اتفاق اصلی بیفته، چی داشت «جریان» پیدا می‌کرد.
The birds were singing when I woke up.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: گذشته استمراری: ساختار (was/were + ing)
💡

مثل یک عکس فوری!

فکر کن داری از یه لحظه در گذشته عکس می‌گیری. این زمان اون لحظه رو در حال انجام نشون میده، نه شروع یا پایانش رو: I was dancing.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: گذشته استمراری: چه اتفاقی در حال افتادن بود؟ (من داشتم تلویزیون تماشا می‌کردم)
💡

قانون کاما

اگه جمله‌تو با When یا While شروع کردی، حتماً بعد از اون یه کاما (ویرگول) بذار:
While I was eating, the phone rang.
ولی اگه این کلمه‌ها وسط جمله اومدن، دیگه کاما نمی‌خوای!
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: گذشته استمراری: کارهای قطع شده (was/were -ing + when)

واژگان کلیدی (6)

suddenly unexpectedly; quickly background the setting or events behind the main action interruption something that stops an action while during the time that shining giving out or reflecting light happening taking place; occurring

Real-World Preview

phone-off

The Missed Call

Review Summary

  • Subject + was/were + Verb-ing
  • I was [action]-ing
  • Past Continuous + when + Past Simple

اشتباهات رایج

Many learners forget the helping verb 'was' or 'were'. You always need the verb 'to be' to make a continuous tense.

Wrong: I eating dinner when you called.
صحیح: I was eating dinner when you called.

Mixing up 'was' and 'were'. Use 'was' for singular (I, he, she, it) and 'were' for plural (you, we, they).

Wrong: They was playing football.
صحیح: They were playing football.

Using Past Continuous for both actions. The action that interrupts should be in the Past Simple, not the Continuous.

Wrong: I was walking when I was seeing him.
صحیح: I was walking when I saw him.

Next Steps

You've just unlocked a major storytelling tool! Being able to describe scenes and interruptions makes your English sound much more natural and engaging. Keep practicing those 'when' connections!

Describe an old photo using only the Past Continuous.

Write three 'When' sentences about your morning today.

Continue to: Looking Ahead: Plans and Suggestions

تمرین سریع (8)

شکل درست فعل رو برای کامل کردن جمله انتخاب کن.

At 7 PM yesterday, I ___ dinner.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: was eating
برای توصیف کاری که در یک زمان دقیق در گذشته در جریان بوده، از was/were + ing استفاده می‌کنیم.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: گذشته استمراری: چه اتفاقی در حال افتادن بود؟ (من داشتم تلویزیون تماشا می‌کردم)

جمله صحیح رو انتخاب کن.

Pick the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: They were playing football.
'They' همیشه تو Past Continuous با 'were' میاد.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: گذشته استمراری: ساختار (was/were + ing)

جاهای خالی رو با فرم صحیح Past Continuous پر کن.

I ___ (study) when my phone rang.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: was studying
برای 'I' از 'was' استفاده میشه و به فعل '-ing' اضافه می‌کنی.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: گذشته استمراری: ساختار (was/were + ing)

جای خالی رو با شکل درست فعل پر کن.

I ___ (watch) TV when the power went out.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: was watching
برای I و کاری که ادامه داشته، از was watching استفاده می‌کنیم.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: گذشته استمراری: کارهای قطع شده (was/were -ing + when)

اشتباه رو پیدا کن و درستش کن.

Find and fix the mistake:

They was playing football when it started to rain.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: They were playing football when it started to rain.
برای They باید از were استفاده کنیم، نه was.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: گذشته استمراری: کارهای قطع شده (was/were -ing + when)

کدوم جمله درسته؟

Choose the grammatically correct interruption:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She was cooking when the phone rang.
کار طولانی was cooking هست و کار کوتاه قطع‌کننده rang.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: گذشته استمراری: کارهای قطع شده (was/were -ing + when)

اشتباه رو پیدا کن و درستش کن.

Find and fix the mistake:

She were watching a movie at 9 PM.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She was watching a movie at 9 PM.
'She' مفرده و 'was' میخواد.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: گذشته استمراری: ساختار (was/were + ing)

اشتباه جمله رو پیدا و اصلاح کن.

Find and fix the mistake:

They studying all night for the test.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: They were studying all night for the test.
گذشته استمراری حتماً به فعل کمکی (was/were) نیاز داره. برای They از were استفاده می‌کنیم.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: گذشته استمراری: چه اتفاقی در حال افتادن بود؟ (من داشتم تلویزیون تماشا می‌کردم)

Score: /8

سوالات رایج (6)

فرمولش اینه: فاعل + was/were + فعل با '-ing'. مثلاً، تصور کن داری به دوستت میگی دیشب چی خوردی: I was eating یا داری توضیح میدی که دوستات چی کار میکردن: They were playing.
برای فاعل‌های مفرد (I, He, She, It) از 'was' استفاده کن. مثلاً میخوای از خودت بگی: I was cooking. و برای فاعل‌های جمع (We, They) و همینطور برای 'You' از 'were' استفاده کن. مثل اینکه از دوستات بگی: You were talking.
ایده اینه که کاری رو توصیف کنی که در یک زمان خاص در گذشته «در جریان» یا ناتمام بوده. مثل اینه که فیلم رو نگه داری و بگی: I was eating.
اول was یا were رو میاری و بعد به فعل اصلی ing اضافه می‌کنی. مثلاً: I was reading.
وقتی که داری یه کار طولانی انجام میدی و یه اتفاق دیگه (کار کوتاه) وسطش میفته. مثلاً:
I was sleeping when the alarm rang.
آره، ولی معمولاً while قبل از قسمتی میاد که توش Past Continuous داری. مثل:
While I was showering, the phone rang.
فصل قبلی
The Past: Irregular Actions and Questions
فصل بعدی
Looking Ahead: Plans and Suggestions
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