一、 概念和用法：過去進行時表示在過去某一時刻或某一段時間內(nèi)進行或發(fā)生的動作。其形式為was /were + V-ing。常與表示過去的時間狀語連用，如：last night, last Saturday等；或者與when, while, as引導的過去時間狀語連用。例如：
We were watching TV from seven to nine last night. 昨天晚上七點到九點的時候我們在看電視。
What was he researching all day last Sunday? 上周日他一整天都在研究什么？
一般過去時表示過去某個時間里發(fā)生的動作或狀態(tài)；過去習慣性、經(jīng)常性的動作、行為；過去主語所具備的能力和性格。基本結(jié)構(gòu)：主語+謂語(動詞過去式）+句子其他成分；主語+was/were+形容詞/名詞/介詞短語+過去時間；否定形式①was/were+not;②在行為動詞前加didn't，同時還原行為動詞；一般疑問句Did+主語+do+其他。

二、過去進行時可以表示在過去某個時間點發(fā)生的事情。時間點可以用介詞短語、副詞或從句來表示。如：
What was she doing at nine o‘clock yesterday? 昨天晚上九點她在做什么？ (介詞短語表示時間點)
When I saw him he was decorating his room. 當我看見他的時候他正在裝飾房間。 (when從句表示時間點)

三、在復合句中，如果主要動作和背景動作都是延續(xù)的或同時發(fā)生的，那么主從句的動詞都可用過去進行時。例如：
While he was waiting for the bus, he was reading a newspaper.他邊等車邊看報。 (兩個動作都是延續(xù)的)
He was cleaning his car while I was cooking. 他擦車時我在做飯。(兩個動作同時進行)

四、 通常不能用于過去進行時的動詞主要有：agree, be, believe, belong, care, forget, hate, have(擁有), hear, know, like, love, mean, mind, notice, own, remember, seem, suppose, understand, want, wish等。例如：
誤：I was knowing the answer.
正：I knew the answer. 我知道答案。
誤：I wasn‘t understanding him.
正：I didn‘t understand him. 我不明白他的意思。

句型：
肯定句：主語+was/were+doing+其它
否定句：主語+was/were+not+doing+其它
一般疑問句及答語：Was/Were+主語+doing+其它
特殊疑問句：特殊疑問詞+was/were+主語+doing+其它

一般過去時
一般過去時表示過去某個時間發(fā)生的動作或存在的狀態(tài)。常和表示過去的時間狀語連用。如:last year, yesterday,once等

一般過去時由動詞的過去式表示,動詞be有was, were兩個過去式,was用于第一、三人稱單數(shù),were用于其他情況。在構(gòu)成否定及疑問句時,一般都借助助動詞did, 動詞be有其獨特的疑問及否定形式(基本上和一般現(xiàn)在時一致)。

1）在確定的過去時間里所發(fā)生的動作或存在的狀態(tài)。
時間狀語有：yesterday, last week, an hour ago, the other day, in 1982等。
Where did you go just now?

2）表示在過去一段時間內(nèi)，經(jīng)常性或習慣性的動作。
When I was a child, I often played football in the street.
Whenever the Browns went during their visit, they were given a warm welcome.

3）句型：
It is time for sb. to do sth "到……時間了" "該……了"
It is time sb. did sth. "時間已遲了" "早該……了"
It is time for you to go to bed. 你該睡覺了。
It is time you went to bed. 你早該睡覺了。
would (had) rather sb. did sth. 表示'寧愿某人做某事'
I'd rather you came tomorrow.

4) wish, wonder, think, hope 等用過去時，作試探性的詢問、請求、建議等。
I thought you might have some. 我以為你想要一些。

比較：
一般過去時表示的動作或狀態(tài)都已成為過去，現(xiàn)已不復存在。
Christine was an invalid all her life.
(含義：她已不在人間。)
Christine has been an invalid all her life.
(含義：她現(xiàn)在還活著)
Mrs. Darby lived in Kentucky for seven years.
(含義：達比太太已不再住在肯塔基州。)
Mrs. Darby has lived in Kentucky for seven years.
( 含義：現(xiàn)在還住在肯塔基州，有可能指剛離去)

注意：用過去時表示現(xiàn)在，表示委婉語氣。
1）動詞want, hope, wonder, think, intend 等。
Did you want anything else?
I wondered if you could help me.
2）情態(tài)動詞 could, would.
Could you lend me your bike?
?