was trying to fall asleep

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diamondcutter

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2014
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
Chinese
Home Country
China
Current Location
China
Cait, 11, was trying to fall asleep when her eight year old brother Doug came into her room. He looked around but seemed really out of it. Then Doug went back into the hallway and stood there looking straight up at the light.

(from the English test paper, 2020 Henan province, China, Senior High School Entrance Examinations)

In the first sentence, I wonder if the use of “was trying to fall asleep” is common, and I’d like to know if it means “was on the point of falling asleep” or “wanted to fall asleep”.
 
Off-topic
Out of curiosity, are you a teacher, diamondcutter?
 
I think it's more like "Cait was making some effort to sleep."
 
I tried (and failed) to go to sleep. I tried, but I couldn't get to sleep.

So here I am.
:)
 
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