The topic is Past Progressive in Swahili grammar. In Swahili, the Past Progressive tense is used to describe actions that were in progress in the past. This tense is formed by using the subject prefix, the tense marker ‘ali-‘ for singular nouns and ‘wali-‘ for plural nouns, and the verb root. Just like in English, it is used for describing actions that were going on at some time in the past.
Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the Past Progressive tense
1. Jana usiku, Maria *alikuwa anasoma* (was reading) kitabu chake kilicho bora.
2. Wazazi wangu *walikuwa wanapika* (were cooking) chakula cha mchana wakati nilipofika nyumbani.
3. Mtoto *alikuwa analala* (was sleeping) aliposikia kelele ya ndege.
4. Mimi na rafiki yangu *tulikuwa tunacheza* (were playing) mpira wa miguu.
5. Tom *alikuwa anafanya* (was doing) kazi zake za nyumbani.
2. Wazazi wangu *walikuwa wanapika* (were cooking) chakula cha mchana wakati nilipofika nyumbani.
3. Mtoto *alikuwa analala* (was sleeping) aliposikia kelele ya ndege.
4. Mimi na rafiki yangu *tulikuwa tunacheza* (were playing) mpira wa miguu.
5. Tom *alikuwa anafanya* (was doing) kazi zake za nyumbani.
Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the Past Progressive tense
6. Nina uhakika kuwa majirani zetu *walikuwa wanafanya* (were making) kelele usiku kucha.
7. Sisi *tulikuwa tunaimba* (were singing) wimbo tulipopoteza njia.
8. Wanafunzi *walikuwa wanasoma* (were studying) Swahili wakati mwalimu alipoingia darasani.
9. Daktari *alikuwa anafanya* (was performing) upasuaji wakati umeme ulipokatwa.
10. John na Mary *walikuwa wanatazama* (were watching) televisheni wakati taa zilipokatika.
7. Sisi *tulikuwa tunaimba* (were singing) wimbo tulipopoteza njia.
8. Wanafunzi *walikuwa wanasoma* (were studying) Swahili wakati mwalimu alipoingia darasani.
9. Daktari *alikuwa anafanya* (was performing) upasuaji wakati umeme ulipokatwa.
10. John na Mary *walikuwa wanatazama* (were watching) televisheni wakati taa zilipokatika.
