過去進行時是表示過去某一時刻或某一時間內正在進行或發生的動作。可以從兩個方面來理解：1 過去某一時刻正在進行或發生的動作。E．g． They were playing football at ten o’clock yesterday morning． My mother was cooking when I got home． I was washing my clothes at this time yesterday． 2 過去某階段持續進行的動作 What were you doing during the holiday? 另外，在複合句中，若主要動作和背景動作是同時發生的，那麼主從句都可用過去進行時e．g． Jenny was reading while Danny was writing．
其結構是助動詞be的過去形式was/were ＋v－ing．
其句式變化仍然要在be上做文章。E．g． We were working in class．
We weren’t working in class． Were you working in class?
過去進行時常與過去某一特定時間的`狀語連用，如 last night， at that time， at noon yesterday， last Sunday 等。 也有時沒有時間狀語，要通過上下文的暗示來確定用過去進行時。E．g． The students all worked hard． Everyone knew what he was working for．
做題時常見錯誤如下：
一、易把be＋現在分詞記成be＋過去分詞
例：He was talked （talk） to his mum at that time．
答案：was talking
解析：過去進行時與現在進行時結構上的區別體現在be動詞上。
二、丟掉be動詞或忘記把動詞變成現在分詞
例：1 I watching （watch） TV when he came in．
2 They were play （play） games at 5：00 p．m． yesterday．
答案：1 was watching 2 were playing
解析：現在進行時中“be＋現在分詞，缺一不可”的規律也可應用於過去進行時。
三、對動詞或動詞詞組提問時丟掉doing
例：We were flying kites at 5：00 p．m． yesterday． （對劃線部分提問）
What were you at 5：00 p．m． yesterday?
答案：What were you doing at 5：00 p．m． yesterday?
解析：現在進行時中“What……doing……”?句式同樣適用於過去進行時。
四、易與現在進行時弄混
例：My mother is cooking （cook）when I got home．
答案：was cooking
解析：這兩種時態的共同點是都表示動作正在進行，但現在進行時前提是現在，而過去進行時前提是過去，由when I got home可看出前提是過去。
五、易與一般過去時弄混
例：昨晚我在讀一本故事書。
I read （read） a story book yesterday evening．
答案：was reading
解析：這兩種時態的共同點是都用於表示過去發生的動作。但過去進行時強調動作正在進行，而一般過去時則表示過去某一時間所發生的動作或存在的狀態，它表示的動作往往已經完成。“在”説明正在進行，而“I read a story book yesterday evening．”的意思是昨晚我讀了一本故事書，言下之意已經讀完了。故用過去進行時。
另外，在賓語從句中當主句為過去時，從句若是現在進行時，需變成過去進行時。
e．g． He said that he was drawing a cat at noon yesterday．
自主訓練：
（一 ）、單選
1 What ______ from three to four yesterday afternoon?
A have you done B had you done C did you do D were you doing
2 – I call you yesterday evening， but there was no answer．
－ Oh．， I’m sorry I _____ dinner at my friend’s home．
A home B had C was having D have had
3 My mother _____ while my father _____TV．
A cooked； was watching B was cooking； was watching
C was cooked； watched D cooked； watched
4 When I got home， my son _____ the music．
A am listening to B listened to C was listening to D was listening
5 We heard a cry when we ______ TV last night．
A were watching B would watch C watch D watched
6 She asked him whether he _____ back for lunch．
A come B was coming C came D had come
7 Could you tell me when ______?
A she is coming B she was coming C will be come D is he coming
8 The teacher ______ when I came into the classroom．
A is drawing B draws C has drawn D was drawing
9 The pizza ______ by my mother． Would you like to have some?
A makes B was making C made D was made
10 Nobody noticed what she ______ at the moment．
A will do B was doing C has done D had done
11 Was it raining hard when you _____ this morning?
A left B leaves C was leaving D would leave
參考答案：
1 D 2 C 3 B 4 C 5 A 6 B 7 A 8 D 9 D 10 B 11 A
（二）、填空
1 ______ they______ （feed） the animals at 5：00 yesterday afternoon?
2 Mrs．Green _____ _____ （not wash） clothes at this time yesterday．
3 Grandpa ______ ______ （mend） his clock when I reached home．
4 As I _____ （walk） in the park， I saw some children playing games．
參考答案：
1 were feeding 2 wasn’t washing 3 was mending 4 was walking
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