過去進(jìn)行時(shí)(past continuous tense)表示過去某一時(shí)刻或某段時(shí)間正在進(jìn)行的動作。如：
I was practicing the violin at eight o'clock yesterday evening. 昨晚八點(diǎn)鐘我正在練習(xí)小提琴。
When Walter arrived home，his sister was doing her homework.沃爾特到家時(shí)，他妹妹正在做作業(yè)。
Pat was watching TV all evening. 帕特整個(gè)晚上都在看電視。
過去進(jìn)行時(shí)的形式
過去進(jìn)行時(shí)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(jìn)行時(shí)的基本用法
表示在過去某一時(shí)刻或某一段時(shí)間正在進(jìn)行的動作，這一特定的時(shí)間往往須用時(shí)間狀語來表示。如：
She was reading an English magazine when I came in.我進(jìn)來時(shí)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(diǎn)到九點(diǎn)我們在打掃大禮堂。
I met him when he was crossing the street.他過街時(shí)我碰見他。
過去進(jìn)行時(shí)的其他用法
1)表示移動的動詞go，come，start，stay，leave等的過去進(jìn)行時(shí)，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(shí)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(jìn)行時(shí)態(tài)加動詞不定式，可以表示在過去某一時(shí)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(gè)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(jìn)行時(shí)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(gè)漆黑的夜晚。風(fēng)刮得很厲害，雨下得很大。一個(gè)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。