Hindi-Urdu: to be in the middle of (doing) something

[amiramir]

Hello,

How do we say we were in the middle of doing something, along the lines of:

• I was in the middle of cooking when the guests arrived.
• She was right in the middle of correcting her mistake when the exam proctor called time.

Also when there's no verb:

• Don't tell me the ending-- I'm in the middle of chapter 5.
• I'm in the middle of a meeting.

My gut tells me that for the verb usage, it would be using the progressive -- MaiN khaanaa banaa rahaa thaa jab mehmaan pahunch gaye (aa gaye?) (the?). And maybe there's some particle I'm forgotting that would make it more idiomatic?

Where there's no verb, maiN abhii meeting meiN huN.. I don't know.

Thank you.

 

[MonsieurGonzalito]

"ke biich meN" can be used also for time lapses, or events taking time, can't it?

 

[El Ganador]

"ke biich meN" can be used also for time lapses, or events taking time, can't it?

I think so:
"मैं खाना बनाने के बीच में था जब मेहमान आ गए।" would work, or maybe "मैं खाना बना रहा था जब मेहमान आ गए।"

Others can probably explain this better, though, and I'm sure that there are other ways to write the sentences.

 

[amiramir]

मुझे खाना बना रहा था जब मेहमान आ गए।"

Presumably मैं?

 

[El Ganador]

Presumably मैं?

Yes, I have fixed my typo.

 

[Sheikh_14]

Hello,

How do we say we were in the middle of doing something, along the lines of:

• I was in the middle of cooking when the guests arrived.
• She was right in the middle of correcting her mistake when the exam proctor called time.

Also when there's no verb:

• Don't tell me the ending-- I'm in the middle of chapter 5.
• I'm in the middle of a meeting.

My gut tells me that for the verb usage, it would be using the progressive -- MaiN khaanaa banaa rahaa thaa jab mehmaan pahunch gaye (aa gaye?) (the?). And maybe there's some particle I'm forgotting that would make it more idiomatic?

Where there's no verb, maiN abhii meeting meiN huN.. I don't know.

Thank you.

Will comment on behalf of Urdu-phones as I can't for Hindiphones with any authority.

1. MaiN khaanaa pakaa/banaa he rahaa taa kih mehmaan aa chale/ga'e.

2. Woh islaaH/tasHiiH/saHiiH karne hii waale tii kih nigraan ne waqt ko pukaar liyaa (feel free to correct the ending, not entirely sure how calling time is meant to be translated).

3. Nah nah anjaam/ant/aaxir/Xitaam nah batanaa maiN baab 5 (paanchweN baab) ko paRh he rahaa hooN. YuuN maza xaraab ho gaa.(Would be interesting if there's a way to translate spoiler).

4. MaiN miiTiNg/ijlaas/mulaaqaat/majlis meN hooN.

 

[littlepond]

• I was in the middle of cooking when the guests arrived.

maiN khaanaa banaane ke beech meN thaa / khaanaa banaa rahaa thaa / khaanaa banaane meN thaa ki jab maihmaan aa gaye.

• She was right in the middle of correcting her mistake when the exam proctor called time.

veh apnii galtii sudhaar hii rahii thii ki jab praukTar ne same pooraa hone kaa sanket diya. (The "hii" is important.)

• Don't tell me the ending-- I'm in the middle of chapter 5.

mujhe ant mat bataanaa - maiN paanchve adhyaaye ke beech meN hooN.

• I'm in the middle of a meeting.

maiN meeTiNg meN hooN.