過去進行式

過去進行式的謂語動詞構成
I / he/ she/ it was working
we/ you/ they were working

過去進行式的用法
表示過去某一時刻或過去某段時間內正在進行的動作，一般要有表示過去式間的狀態語。
At that time she was working in Oxford.
那時，她正在牛津大學工作。
It was raining at 6 o'clock this morning.
今天早晨六點鐘天正下著雨。
What were you doing when I phoned you last night?
昨晚我給你打電話時你在幹什麼？

常用的時間狀態語：
at 8 o'clock yesterday morning昨天早上8點，
at this time last year去年的這個時候，
...when I phoned you yesterday昨天我打電話給你的那個時候，
...while we were having the meeting我們在開會的時候。
在含有時間副詞子句的複合句中，延續性動詞用過去進行式，非延續性動詞用一般過去式。如：
They were watching TV when I entered the room.
我進入房間時，他們正在看電視。
若主句和子句的動詞均為延續性動詞，則可以兩邊都可以採用過去進行式。如：
The children were playing with their toys while I was eating my dinner.
我吃飯的時候，孩子們在玩他們的玩具。

可用來表示由過去某時持續到另一時間的過去動作。
He was studying in Cambridge between 1999 and 2001.
在1999年和2001年那段時間，他在劍橋學習。
From January to March I was traveling in Egypt.
從3月份到4月份期間，我在埃及旅遊。
這種時間狀態語亦可同一般過去式連用，如：
He worked from morning till night yesterday.
昨天他從早到晚地工作。

表示故事發生的背景。
It was a sunny morning. Some people were sitting on the riverbank. Some were walking with their dogs. Several boys were playing football nearby...
一個陽光明媚的清晨。河堤上坐著幾個人。有的人在溜狗。不遠處有幾個男童在踢足球...

與某些動詞連用時，代替過去未來式。
He telephoned me, saying that his aunt was coming to see me soon.
他打電話給我，說他姨媽很快就要看我了。
這類動詞有 come來, go去, leave離開, start開始, stay逗留 等。主語必須是人。

一般過去式與過去進行式的用法比較
We built a bridge last winter.
去年冬天我們修了一座橋。
（全過程，橋已修好）
We were building a bridge last winter.
去年冬天我們在修一座橋。
（片斷，修完與否未知）