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Uses of Past Progressive
To express an action in progress at a definite point or period of past time
To express a past habitual action
To express futurity in the past To express actions in present time and in future time The comparison of past progressive and simple past
background
colloquial speech
I was talking to the librarian this morning, and he said we had to return all the reference books before Saturday.
temporariness
phone! Then I (11) managed (manage) to break three of the best glasses while I (12) was doing (do) the washing-up! And just before you came, I (13) cut (cut) my finger when I (14) come! As I (15) (16) (peel) the potatoes! And the best is still to was peeling (reverse) the car out of the garage, I somehow was reversing
Wondering if you were ever coming around. 我开始怀疑你是否能如期而至。
My faith in you was fading. 我也渐渐没了信心。
• past progressive：was / were + -ing participle
• present progressive：am / is / are + -ing participle • the time reference
past progressive causal, unintentional and aimless
I was talking to Margaret the other day. I talked to Margaret the other day.
time sequence
When we arrived, she was making some fresh coffee. When we arrived, she made some fresh coffee. (= After)
(forget) about that new gatepost I’d put up and I (17) forgot
bumped (bump) into it! I’m afraid we need a new rear light and a new bumper! But the gatepost’s OK!
express hypothetical meanings
ห้องสมุดไป่ตู้
certain conditional clauses
I wish, I'd rather, It's time, …
I wish we were going / went.
simple past an action in completion
a future action in the past
specific plan or arrangement
They were leaving a few days later.
adverbial clauses of time or condition
He promised not to mention this when he was talking to her.
show euphemistic tone
hope, want, wonder, …
make polite requests
I was wondering / wondered if you’d like to come out with me one evening. I was hoping you could send me some books.
It rained / was raining all night.
simple past the action of shorter duration
past progressive the action of longer duration
While I was dictating a letter to my secretary, my wife rang.
George was getting up at five every day that week.
emotional feelings
always, constantly, …
My brother was always losing his keys. I remember my grandfather was always smoking a cigar. (emphasis)
Proverb
• The only good luck many great men ever had was being born with the
ability to overcome bad luck. 对于许多伟大的人来说，他们惟一的幸运之处就是他们具有征
服厄运的天赋。
• I felt life was beauty while I was dreaming then I woke and found life was duty.
temporal adverbial
context
What were you doing yesterday at seven p.m.? (a definite point of past time) From 1983 to 1988, he was teaching at Yale. (a definite period of past time)
The bird was drinking while the rabbit was listening to music.
Exercises （P137-11E）
What a rotten day I’ve had! Everything went wrong! This morning I (1) was just hanging out (hang out) the washing when it (2) started (start) to rain, so I had to bring it all in again! Then I decided to clean out the kitchen cupboard, and while I (3) was wiping (wipe) the top shelf I (4) lost (lose) my balance and (5) fell off (fall off) the stool! As I (6) was washing (wash) the kitchen floor, the dog (7) rushed (rush) in and (8) knocked over (knock over) the bucket of water! After that, I thought I’d earned a nice cup of coffee, so I put on the milk and (9) let (let) it boil while I (10) was talking (talk) to my mother on the
梦里的生活是如此如梦似幻，现实中的生活还得挑起重担。
Exercises
She was fighting with her boyfriend at 7 yesterday.
Exercises
The student was writing when the teacher came in.
Exercises
past progressive an action in progress
I read a novel yesterday.
I was reading a novel yesterday.
simple past a past fact
past progressive the duration of the action
Past Progressive
Teammates
Gigi
Caroline
Ann
Martina
Even
Laurel
Jessica
Lyrics
That you were Romeo, you were throwing pebbles. 你就是罗密欧，你用各种方法接近我。
And I was crying on the staircase begging you please don't go. 而我却只能在角落里抹眼泪，祈祷你不要离开。