過去進行時

過去進行時 = was / were + -ing。Was 用於 I / he / she / it，were 用於 you / we / they。加 -ing 的方法和現在進行時一樣（見“現在進行時”一課）。

特殊疑問句：What were you doing? Who was she talking to? 簡略回答：Yes, I was. / No, they weren't.

1. 過去某一時刻正在進行的動作——在那一刻之前已經開始，還沒有結束。常和 at 9 o'clock last night、at this time yesterday 連用。

• At nine last night, I was watching a football match.

  昨晚九點，我正在看一場足球賽。

• What were you doing at this time yesterday?

  昨天這個時候你在做什麼？

2. 在故事開頭描述背景

• It was raining, and people were hurrying home.

  當時正下著雨，人們匆匆往家趕。

• The sun was shining and the kids were playing on the beach.

  陽光燦爛，孩子們正在海灘上玩耍。

3. 同時進行的兩個較長的動作——常用 while 連線

• While I was cooking, my husband was setting the table.

  我做飯的時候，我丈夫在擺餐具。

• Lan was studying while her brother was playing games.

  蘭在學習，她弟弟在打遊戲。

💡可以把過去進行時理解為過去某一刻“正在……當中”：昨晚九點我正在看球賽 = I was watching football。一般過去時則表示完整、已結束的動作。

這兩種時態常在同一個句子裡配合使用：過去進行時表示正在進行的較長動作，一般過去時表示打斷它的短暫動作。

• I was having a shower when the phone rang.

  我正在洗澡，電話響了。

• We were driving home when we saw the accident.

  我們開車回家的路上看到了那起事故。

• When I arrived, they were eating dinner.

  我到的時候，他們正在吃晚飯。

換一個時態，意思就變了：

一個接一個發生的動作，全部用一般過去時：She got up, had breakfast and left.

• while + 較長的動作（通常用過去進行時）：While I was walking home, it started to rain.
• when + 短暫的動作（通常用一般過去時）：I was walking home when it started to rain.
• When 也可以接較長的動作（When I was walking home, …），但 while 通常接持續一段時間的事；一瞬間發生的動作要用 when：“when I opened the door”，不說 “while I opened the door”。
• when / while 從句放在前面時要加逗號：While she was sleeping, someone called. 放在後面時通常不加：Someone called while she was sleeping.

While（+ 從句）和 during（+ 名詞）不一樣——見“During 與 while”一課。

和現在時一樣，know、want、like、need、believe、understand、own 這類狀態動詞通常不用進行時，即使說的是過去某一刻正在進行的事——要用一般過去時。

• I didn't understand what he was saying.

  我沒聽懂他在說什麼。（不說：wasn't understanding）

• We wanted to leave, but it was still raining.

  我們想走了，可是外面還在下雨。

• ✗I was cook dinner when you called.

  ✓I was cooking dinner when you called.

  was 後面要用 -ing 形式。

• ✗They was playing football.

  ✓They were playing football.

  they → were。

• ✗I watched TV when the lights went out.

  ✓I was watching TV when the lights went out.

  較長的、被打斷的動作 → 過去進行時。

• ✗Were you sleep when I called?

  ✓Were you sleeping when I called?

  was / were + -ing。

• ✗I was knowing the answer.

  ✓I knew the answer.

  know 是狀態動詞 → 用一般過去時。

• ✗What did you doing at eight last night?

  ✓What were you doing at eight last night?

  過去進行時用 was / were，不用 did。