過去進行時的主要用法是描述一件事情在過去的持續(xù)發(fā)生的過程或背景，也就是一個長動作發(fā)生的時候，另一個短動作也同時發(fā)生，過去進行時表示過去某段時間內(nèi)持續(xù)進行的動作或者事情。過去進行時常用的時間狀語this morning, the whole morning, all day yesterday, from nine to ten last evening, when, while例如：

1.What was he researching all day last Sunday?
上周日他一整天都在研究什么？
2.My brother fell while he was riding his bicycle and hurt himself.
我哥哥騎自行車的時候從車上摔下來，受傷了。　
3.It was raining when they left the station.
他們離開車站的時候天正在下雨。
4.When I got to the top of the mountain, the sun was shining.
當我到達山頂?shù)臅r候，陽光燦爛。
5.The boy was doing his homework when his father came back from work.
當男孩的父親下班回來時，他正在做作業(yè)。
6.He was taking a walk leisurely by the lake when he heard someone shouted for help.
當他正在湖邊散步時，聽到有人喊救命。
7.What were you doing at nine last night?
昨天晚上九點你在干什么？
8. Were you playing basketball at eight this morning?
今天早上八點你們在打籃球嗎?
9. My parents were watching TV at 8:00 last night.
昨晚八點鐘時我的父母親都在看電視。
10. 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?！　?/p>