一、 概念和用法:过去进行时表示在过去某一时刻或某一段时间内进行或发生的动作。其形式为was /were + V-ing。常与表示过去的时间状语连用,如:last night, last Saturday等;或者与when, while, as引导的过去时间状语连用。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 was he researching all day last Sunday? 上周日他一整天都在研究什么?
一般过去时表示过去某个时间里发生的动作或状态;过去习惯性、经常性的动作、行为;过去主语所具备的能力和性格。基本结构:主语+谓语(动词过去式)+句子其他成分;主语+was/were+形容词/名词/介词短语+过去时间;否定形式①was/were+not;②在行为动词前加didn't,同时还原行为动词;一般疑问句Did+主语+do+其他。

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 o‘clock yesterday? 昨天晚上九点她在做什么? (介词短语表示时间点)
When I saw him he was decorating 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 reading 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 cooking. 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, believe, belong, care, forget, hate, have(拥有), hear, know, like, love, mean, mind, notice, own, remember, seem, suppose, understand, want, wish等。例如:
误:I was knowing the answer.
正:I knew the answer. 我知道答案。
误:I wasn‘t understanding him.
正:I didn‘t understand him. 我不明白他的意思。

句型:
肯定句:主语+was/were+doing+其它
否定句:主语+was/were+not+doing+其它
一般疑问句及答语:Was/Were+主语+doing+其它
特殊疑问句:特殊疑问词+was/were+主语+doing+其它

一般过去时
一般过去时表示过去某个时间发生的动作或存在的状态。常和表示过去的时间状语连用。如:last year, yesterday,once等

一般过去时由动词的过去式表示,动词be有was, were两个过去式,was用于第一、三人称单数,were用于其他情况。在构成否定及疑问句时,一般都借助助动词did, 动词be有其独特的疑问及否定形式(基本上和一般现在时一致)。

1)在确定的过去时间里所发生的动作或存在的状态。
时间状语有:yesterday, last week, an hour ago, the other day, in 1982等。
Where did you go just now?

2)表示在过去一段时间内,经常性或习惯性的动作。
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……时间了" "该……了"
It is time sb. did sth. "时间已迟了" "早该……了"
It is time for you to go to bed. 你该睡觉了。
It is time you went to bed. 你早该睡觉了。
would (had) rather sb. did sth. 表示'宁愿某人做某事'
I'd rather you came tomorrow.

4) wish, wonder, think, hope 等用过去时,作试探性的询问、请求、建议等。
I thought you might have some. 我以为你想要一些。

比较:
一般过去时表示的动作或状态都已成为过去,现已不复存在。
Christine was an invalid all her life.
(含义:她已不在人间。)
Christine has been an invalid all her life.
(含义:她现在还活着)
Mrs. Darby lived in Kentucky for seven years.
(含义:达比太太已不再住在肯塔基州。)
Mrs. Darby has lived in Kentucky for seven years.
( 含义:现在还住在肯塔基州,有可能指刚离去)

注意:用过去时表示现在,表示委婉语气。
1)动词want, hope, wonder, think, intend 等。
Did you want anything else?
I wondered if you could help me.
2)情态动词 could, would.
Could you lend me your bike?