一、概念和用法:
1) 概念：表示过去某时正在进行的状态或动作。
2) 过去进行时的主要用法是描述一件事发生的背景;一个长动作发生的时候，另一个短动作发生。
3) 常用的时间状语this morning, the whole1 morning, all day yesterday, from nine to ten last evening, when, while例如：
We were watching TV from seven to nine last night. 昨天晚上七点到九点的时候我们在看电视。 What was4 he researching5 all day last Sunday 上周日他一整天都在研究什么
My brother fell6 while3 he was riding his bicycle and hurt himself7. 我哥哥骑自行车的时候从车上摔下来，受伤了。
It was raining when they left the station. 他们离开车站的时候天正在下雨。
When I got8 to the top of the mountain, the sun was shining9. 当我到达山顶的时候，阳光灿烂。
二、 过去进行时可以表示在过去某个时间点发生的事情。时间点可以用介词短语、副词或从句来表示。如：
What was she doing at nine oclock yesterday 昨天晚上九点她在做什么 (介词短语表示时间点)
When I saw10 him he was decorating11 his room. 当我看见他的时候他正在装饰房间。 (when从句表示时间点)
三、 在复合句中，如果主要动作和背景动作都是延续的或同时发生的，那么主从句的动词都可用过去进行时。例如：
While he was waiting for the bus, he was reading12 a newspaper.他边等车边看报。 (两个动作都是延续的)
He was cleaning his car while I was cooking13. 他擦车时我在做饭。(两个动作同时进行)
四、 通常不能用于过去进行时的动词主要有：agree, be, believe15, belong16, care17, forget, hate18, have(拥有), hear, know, like, love, mean, mind19, notice20, own21, remember, seem22, suppose23, understand, want, wish等。例如：
误：I was knowing the answer.
正：I knew the answer. 我知道答案。
误：I wasnt understanding24 him.
正：I didnt understand him. 我不明白他的意思。
五、典型例题
1) Mary ___ a dress when she cut her finger.
A. made25 B. is making C. was making D. makes
答案C. 割伤手指是已发生的事情，应用过去时。同 时，when表时间的同时性，玛丽在做衣服时提供事情发生的背景，因此用过去进行时。
2) As2 she ___ the newspaper, Granny ___ asleep26.
read; was falling B. was reading; fell C. was reading; was falling D. read;fell
答案B.句中的as = when, while，意为当之时。描述一件事发生的背景时，用过去进行;一个长动作发生的时候，另一个短动作发生。句意为 在她看报纸时，奶奶睡着了。句中的 fell (fall的过去时)，是系动词，后跟形容词，如：fall sick。
扩展：初中英语阅读 Friendship
友谊是沟通人与人心灵的桥梁， 让我们珍视友谊，祝友谊地久天长
Friendship is one of the greatest pleasures that people can enjoy. It is very difficult to find a better definition1 of friendship. A true friend does indeed find pleasure in our joy and share sorrow in our grief2. In time of trial， he or she is always at our side to give us his or her help and comfort.
Knowing how valuable friendship is， we should be very careful in our choice of a friend. We must choose someone who has a good character， whose activities are good and who shows kindness of heart. We should avoid those shallow3 people who are easily changed by adversities or misfortune4.
A true friend can always be trusted， loved and respected. If you tell a friend your secrets， he or she wont tell anyone else. Friends share each others joys and sorrows. They help each other when they are in trouble， and cheer each other up when they are sad. The most important thing is that a friend always understands you. In conclusion， when you have made a good friend， dont forget him or her.
友 谊
我们一生中不能没有友谊。它是人们最大的快乐之一。很难给友谊找到一个更好的定义。一个真正的朋友会与我们分享快乐与悲伤。 在考验人的时刻， 他或她总会站在我们一边，帮助我们，安慰我们。
知道了友谊的珍贵，在择友时我们就应非常谨慎。然而，选择朋友并不容易。我们一定要选择那些性格好、行为好、心地好的人。应避免选择那些遇到逆境或不幸就很容易改变的人。
一个真正的朋友总是让人信任、喜爱和尊敬的。如果你把自己的秘密告诉了朋友，他不会告诉别人。朋友之间会分享快乐和悲伤。当他们遇到困难时，会互相帮助;当他们悲伤时，会互相鼓励。最重要的是，朋友总是能理解你。最后说一句，当你交到好友时，不要轻易忘记他或她。
