24.过去进行时
<例句>
What were you doing when I rang you?
我给你打电话的时候你在干吗？
<语法分析>
过去进行时主要表示过去某时的一个动作正在进行，而过去的时间可以由一个状语表示出来，有时候时间由上下文表示出来。过去进行时既具有一般过去时的特点，又具有进行时的特点。过去进行时与一般过去时的基本差别是，前者表示一个正在进行的动作，而后者则表示一个已经完成的动作。而且，用进行时态时有时有感情色彩。
<触类旁通>
(1) She was always working.
她总是不停地干活。
语法分析：这个句子具有赞扬的意味，有时用进行时态可使句子具有感情色彩，特别是带有always, forever和constantly等状语的时候。
(2) I got to know him when I was working in a pharmacy.
我在药房工作时结识了他。
语法分析：在状语从句中，经常要用到过去进行时。
(3) The kettle was boiling, the telephone was ringing and someone was knocking at the door.
壶里的水开着，电话铃响着，又有人在敲门。
语法分析：过去进行时表示正在进行的一次性动作。
(4) I was always missing trains.
我总是误火车。
语法分析：过去进行时可以表示经常重复性的动作。
(5）They were expecting to finish the work last week, but unexpectedly the machines went out of order.
他们原以为上个月会完成工作，但不巧机器出了故障。
语法分析：某些词或词组如come, go, plan, expect以及look forward to 等的过去进行时，有时是表示本来打算做而实际没有做成的事情。
(6) By the time he was ten he was already doing experiment in chemistry.
到十岁时，他已经在做化学实验了。
语法分析：过去进行时还可以表示该动作还未结束或已进入一个新阶段。
(7) I was wondering whether you could give me some advice.
不知道你可否帮我出点主意。
语法分析：有时用进行时表示现在的想法，可以显得客气一点。
<巩固练习>
(1) Soon all the people of the city _____[talk] of the wonderful cloth.
(2) She _____[come] to see me, but unfortunately she was ill.
(3) He was busy yesterday. He _____[prepare] for the exams.
(4) She lost her purse when she _____[sroll] across a meadow.
(5) I asked her to tell me what _____[trouble] her.
(6) I _____[hope] you could reconsider our proposal.
<参考答案>
(1) were talking (2) was coming (3) was preparing (4) was strolling (5) was troubling (6) was hoping