过去进行时的主要用法是描述一件事情在过去的持续发生的过程或背景，也就是一个长动作发生的时候，另一个短动作也同时发生，过去进行时表示过去某段时间内持续进行的动作或者事情。过去进行时常用的时间状语this morning, the whole morning, all day yesterday, from nine to ten last evening, when, while例如：

1.What was he researching all day last Sunday?
上周日他一整天都在研究什么？
2.My brother fell while he was riding his bicycle and hurt himself.
我哥哥骑自行车的时候从车上摔下来，受伤了。　
3.It was raining when they left the station.
他们离开车站的时候天正在下雨。
4.When I got to the top of the mountain, the sun was shining.
当我到达山顶的时候，阳光灿烂。
5.The boy was doing his homework when his father came back from work.
当男孩的父亲下班回来时，他正在做作业。
6.He was taking a walk leisurely by the lake when he heard someone shouted for help.
当他正在湖边散步时，听到有人喊救命。
7.What were you doing at nine last night?
昨天晚上九点你在干什么？
8. Were you playing basketball at eight this morning?
今天早上八点你们在打篮球吗?
9. My parents were watching TV at 8:00 last night.
昨晚八点钟时我的父母亲都在看电视。
10. 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。