past continuous

IPA/ˌpɑːst kənˈtɪn.ju.əs/
IPA/ˌpæst kənˈtɪn.ju.əs/

past continuous — 名詞

1. An English verb tense that expresses an activity happening and continuing over a

1.名詞B1
釋義

過去進行式

表示過去某時正在進行的動作

An English verb tense that expresses an activity happening and continuing over a period of time at a specific moment in the past. You make this tense by placing 'was' or 'were' in front of the present participle (the verb ending in -ing).

例句

In class, the teacher showed how to form the past continuous with 'was' and 'were'.

課堂上，老師示範了如何使用 'was' 和 'were' 來構成過去進行式。

formation: was/were + present participle (-ing)

Students often confuse the past continuous with the past simple when telling a story.

學生在說故事時，常會混淆過去進行式與過去簡單式。

contrast with past simple in storytelling

常見搭配
  • past continuous tense
  • use the past continuous
  • form the past continuous
  • past continuous + 'was/were'
  • past continuous + present participle
同義詞
  • past progressive

    Exact synonym; 'past progressive' is more common in American grammar materials, while 'past continuous' is standard in British English and international EFL courses.

反義詞
  • past simple

    The past simple describes completed actions or single events ('She walked home'), while the past continuous describes ongoing activities ('She was walking home when it started to rain').

用法筆記

Also known as the past progressive. The past continuous is only appropriate for continuing actions in the past — stative verbs expressing states (like 'know', 'believe', 'own') are rarely used in this form. Use the past simple instead for completed single events.

常見錯誤

When she called, I watched TV.
When she called, I was watching TV.
Use the past continuous for an ongoing background action interrupted by another event.
Every summer I was visiting my grandparents.
Every summer I visited my grandparents.
Use the past simple, not the past continuous, for habitual actions in the past.

同根字

常見搭配

名詞搭配

  • past continuous tense
  • past continuous form
  • use of the past continuous
  • past continuous + stative verb restriction

常用片語

  • in the past continuous
  • form the past continuous
  • use the past continuous to describe