​* Diễn tả hành động đang xảy ra tại một thời điểm xác định trong quá khứ

​At 9 p.m. last night, he was watching Spider Man.

​I was watering flowers in the garden at 5 p.m. yesterday.

​This time last year they were living in England.

​

​* Diễn tả hai hay nhiều hành động cùng xảy ra đồng thời trong quá khứ

While they were preparing for the party, she was sleeping.

Our team were eating dinner, discussing plans, and having a good time.

John was listening to music while his mother was cooking in the kitchen.​

​* Diễn tả một hành động đang xảy ra thì có hành động khác xen vào trong quá khứ (hành động xen ngang này dùng thì quá khứ đơn)

​It rained when I was planting a tree.

​When I was cooking, the light went out.

​He was walking on the street when he suddenly fell over.

​

​* Diễn tả hành động được lặp đi lặp lại trong quá khứ gây ảnh hưởng (làm phiền) đến người khác

​When he lived here, he was always making noise.

​He was always making mistakes even in easy assignments.

​When Lisa stayed with me, she was always singing.

​Dấu hiệu nhận biết:

​* when (khi) (khi diễn tả một hành động đang xảy ra trong quá khứ thì một hành động khác xen vào)

​* while (trong khi) (khi diễn tả hai hay nhiều hành động đang xảy ra đồng thời trong quá khứ)

* Có sự xuất hiện của các trạng từ chỉ thời gian trong quá khứ kèm theo thời điểm xác định:

​at + giờ + thời gian trong quá khứ (at 12 o’clock last night, …)

​at this time + thời gian trong quá khứ (at this time two weeks ago, …)

​in the past (trong quá khứ)

​in + năm trong quá khứ (in 2000, in 2005)

In 1994 they were working in a small town in Germany.

​Subject + was/were + Verb-ing .

​At three o’clock today, I was hanging out with my friends.

We were just talking about it when you arrived.

​​We were having final test at this time three weeks ago.

​

​Subject + was/were + not + Verb-ing .

< was not = wasn’t > < were not = weren’t >

They were not working when the boss came yesterday.

​I wasn’t paying attention while I was writing the letter, so I made several mistakes.

He was not watching that film when Marie finished her work.

Was/Were + Subject + Verb-ing ?

​- Yes, Subject + was/were.

- No, Subject + was/were + not.

Was Lily riding her bike when Jane saw her yesterday?

Was your mother going to the market at 7 p.m. last night?

​Were they listening while he was talking?

​

WH-word + was/were + Subject + Verb-ing ?

- ​Subject + was/were + V-ing .​

What was he talking about?

​What were you doing in the meeting yesterday?

Where were you going to when I saw you last weekend?