谓语动词构成：I/he/she/it was working; we/you/they were working

(1) 表示过去某一时刻或过去某段时间内正在进行的动作，一般要有表示过去时间的状语

At that time she was working in Oxford. 那时，她正在牛津大学工作.

It was raining at 6 o’clock this morning. 今天早晨六点钟天正下着雨.

What were you doing when I phoned you last night? 昨晚我给你打电话时你在干什么?

(2) 可用来表示由过去某时持续到另一时间的过去动作

He was studying in Cambridge between 1999 and 2001.

在1999年和2001年那段时间，他在剑桥学习.

From January to March I was traveling in Egypt.

从3月份到4月份期间，我在埃及旅游.

(3) 表示故事发生的背景

It was a sunny morning. Some people were sitting on the riverbank. Some were walking with their dogs. Several boys were playing football nearby...

一个阳光明媚的清晨.河堤上坐着几个人.有的人在溜狗.不远处有几个男童在踢足球...

(4) 与某些动词连用时，代替过去将来时

这类动词有 come来, go去, leave离开, start开始, stay逗留 等.主语必须是人.

He telephoned me, saying that his aunt was coming to see me soon.

他打电话给我，说他姨很快就要看我了.

五、现在完成时

谓语动词构成：I/we/you/they have worked; he/she/it has worked

(1) 表示过去某一时刻发生，且延续到现在的动作或状态，这种情况常与表示一段的时间状语连用

We have lived here since last October. 自从去年十月份我们就一直住在这儿。

She has studied English for 5 years. 她学英语已有5年之久

(2) 表示某个已经发生且对现在造成影响或结果的动作，这种情况常不与任何时间状语连用

I’m sorry I have lost my key. I can’t open the door.

对不起，我把钥匙弄丢了.门开不了了.

She has left. If you want to see her, you’ll have to come tomorrow.

她已经走了.如果你想见她的话，你得明天再来一趟.