我们学过了现在进行时及其用法后，就不难理解过去进行时（The Pass Progressive）。

过去进行时主要表示过去某个时刻正在进行的动作，由 be 动词的过去式（were /was）加现在分词构成。

过去进行时的结构：

主语 + were / was + 现在分词

（一）过去进行时的用法

（1）表示过去某个时刻或某一阶段正在进行的动作。

常和表示过去的时间状语如 then，at this（that）time，yesterday，last year 等连用。但值得注意的是，在很多情况下，句中并没有表示时间的状语，需要通过上下文来表示。

例如：What were you doing at about 4 o'clock yesterday afternoon?

昨天下午大约4点钟时，你在干什么？

I was listening to music.

我在听音乐。（指昨晚大约4点时）

Jane was doing her homework last night.

简昨晚在做作业。（指昨晚的某一段时间内）

（2）在某事（动作）发生前开始的动作，常与一般过去时组成复句，用在主句或从句中。

例如：Just as I was leaving the house，the telephone rang.

我正要离开房子时，电话铃响了。

He broke his leg when he was playing football.

他踢足球时，弄伤了腿。

She was reading when he called.

他打来电话时，她正在看书。

（3）表示同时进行的动作

例如：While you were writing letters，I was reading a book.

你写信时，我在读一本书。（两个动作同时进行）

While we were having breakfast，John was talking on the telephone.

我们吃早饭时，约翰正在打电话。（两个动作同时进行）

（4）表示过去将来的动作, 常用在间接引语中

例如：She was leaving early the next morning.

她第二天一早就要离开。（此处的 was leaving 表示过去将来的动作，不是过去进行时。）

She asked whether he was coming back for lunch.

她问他是否回来吃午饭。（此处的 was coming 表示过去将来的动作，不是过去进行时。）

We were coming to see you，but it rained（so we didn't.）

我们本来是要来看你的，但是下雨了。（所以我们没有来。）

（这种用法仅限少数瞬间动词，如 come，go, leave, arrive 等 ）

（5）表示客气的询问，比用一般过去时更客气，更不肯定。

例如：My boss was wondering about it.

我的老板想知道此事。

I was wondering how to get there quickly.

我想知道怎样快速到达那里。

They were wondering where to spend the weekend.

他们想知道去哪里过周末。

（二）过去进行时的肯定句、疑问句和否定句

（1）肯定句：主语 + were / was + 现在分词

例如：I was watching TV when you came to visit me last night.

你昨晚来看我时，我正在看电视。

We were playing basketball on the playground then.

那时我们正在操场上打篮球。

（2）疑问句：Were / Was + 主语 + 现在分词 + ? (一般疑问句)

例如：Was he reading a book at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon?

他昨天下午三点在读书吗？

Yes, he was. 是的，他在读。

No, he was not. (he wasn't.) 不，他没在读。

Were they swimming in the river when the teacher came?

老师来时，他们正在河里游泳吗？

Yes, they were. 是的，他们在游泳。

No, they were not.(they weren't) 不，他们没在游泳。

特殊疑问句: 在一般疑问句前加 What, Where, Why, Which, How 等

What were you doing while your mother was cooking?

你妈妈做饭时，你在干什么？

Where is she singing when you saw her?

你看见她时，她正在哪儿唱歌？

Why were they all sleeping at about 10 o'clock this morning?

为什么今早大约10点时他们都在睡觉？

Which car was he driving at the race?

比赛时他开的是哪辆车？

How were you describing the accident then?

你当时是如何描述那场事故的？

（3）否定句：主语 + were not / was not + 现在分词

例如：The dog was not barkingwhile the stranger was passing by.

那陌生人路过时，狗没有叫。

I wasn't doingmy homework when you knocked the door.

你敲门时，我没在做作业。

They said that they weren't makinga snowman.

他们说他们不去堆雪人了。（ 注意：weren't making 表示过去将来的动作）