過去進行時由was(第一、三人稱單數(shù))或were (其余各人稱和數(shù))加現(xiàn)在分詞所構(gòu)成。
過去進行時的基本用法
表示在過去某一時刻或某一段時間正在進行的動作，這一特定的時間往往須用時間狀語來表示。如：
She was reading an English magazine when I came in.我進來時她在看一本英文雜志。
It was getting dark.天黑了。
They were working all day yesterday.他們昨天整天工作。
We were cleaning the auditorium from 7 to 9 last night.昨晚七點到九點我們在打掃大禮堂。
I met him when he was crossing the street.他過街時我碰見他。
過去進行時的其他用法
1)表示移動的動詞go，come，start，stay，leave等的過去進行時，可以表示過去將來發(fā)生的動作。如：
They wanted to know when we were leaving for Shanghai. 他們想知道我們什么時候到上海去。
She asked whether he was starting then ext day.她問他是否第二天就動身。
2)動詞go的過去進行時態(tài)加動詞不定式，可以表示在過去某一時間之后將要發(fā)生的動作。(比較8.24的3)如：
They said they were going to set up a nursery.他們說他們要設(shè)立一個托兒所。
She said the foreign guests were going to visit the Shanghai in dustrial Exhibition.她說外賓要去參觀上海工業(yè)展覽會。
The monitor announced that our new teacher was going to speak to us.班長宣布新老師要跟我們講話。
3)過去進行時可用來描寫故事發(fā)生的背景。如：
It was a dark night. The wind was blowing hard and the rain was falling heavily. A young woman suddenly appeared on the riverbank. it was Xier. She had just escaped from Huang Shiren's house.那是一個漆黑的夜晚。風(fēng)刮得很厲害，雨下得很大。一個年輕婦女突然出現(xiàn)在河岸上。這就是喜兒。她剛從黃世仁的家里逃了出來。