1學習目標
學完這一課,你應該要會:
- 理解過去進行式的用途:描述過去某個時間點「正在進行」的動作或背景狀況。
- 熟練過去進行式的結構:was / were + V-ing,並依主詞正確選擇 was 或 were。
- 分辨過去進行式與過去簡單式的常見分工:進行式常描述持續的背景動作,簡單式常描述打斷的短動作。
- 掌握常見時間線索:at 8 o'clock last night、at that time、this time yesterday、all morning。
- 初步理解 when / while 與過去進行式的搭配,並熟練否定句、疑問句與簡答。
2先備知識
開始這一課之前,請先確認你已經理解:
- 【第 2 課】be 動詞的過去式 was / were 與主詞搭配。
- 【第 12 課】現在進行式的結構(be + V-ing)與 V-ing 拼字規則。
- 【第 13 課】過去簡單式(規則動詞加 ed、不規則動詞、did / didn't)。
- 【第 5 課】人稱代名詞與所有格。
- 【第 6 課】反身代名詞・指示代名詞・不定代名詞。
- 【第 11 課】現在簡單式 vs. 現在進行式。
3核心概念
① 過去進行式的用途與結構
過去進行式描述「過去某個時間點正在進行」的動作,也就是當時的一個「背景畫面」。結構是 be 動詞的過去式加上 V-ing:
• I / he / she / it / 單數名詞 → was + V-ing:I was reading at nine last night.
• we / you / they / 複數名詞 → were + V-ing:They were playing then.
注意:you 不論單數或複數,be 動詞過去式一律用 were。
過去進行式描述「過去某個時間點正在進行」的動作,也就是當時的一個「背景畫面」。結構是 be 動詞的過去式加上 V-ing:
• I / he / she / it / 單數名詞 → was + V-ing:I was reading at nine last night.
• we / you / they / 複數名詞 → were + V-ing:They were playing then.
注意:you 不論單數或複數,be 動詞過去式一律用 were。
② 常見時間線索
過去進行式常與「過去某個明確時刻」或「一段過去的持續時間」搭配:
• 明確時刻:at eight o'clock last night、at that time、this time yesterday、at noon yesterday。
• 持續時段:all morning、all day yesterday、from seven to nine。
這些線索只是判斷的重要提示,仍要配合整句語境;若動作是被打斷的短動作,則可能用過去簡單式。
過去進行式常與「過去某個明確時刻」或「一段過去的持續時間」搭配:
• 明確時刻:at eight o'clock last night、at that time、this time yesterday、at noon yesterday。
• 持續時段:all morning、all day yesterday、from seven to nine。
這些線索只是判斷的重要提示,仍要配合整句語境;若動作是被打斷的短動作,則可能用過去簡單式。
③ 與過去簡單式的分工(本課核心)
當一個「持續的背景動作」被一個「短暫的打斷動作」插入時,常見的敘事模式為:
• 持續的背景動作 → 常用過去進行式(was / were + V-ing)
• 短暫的打斷動作 → 常用過去簡單式(V-ed / 不規則過去式)
常見搭配:S + was/were + V-ing + when + S + 過去簡單式。
例如:I was watching TV when someone knocked on the door.(我正在看電視時,有人敲門。)
注意:when 也可引導進行式,並非只能用簡單式;本課先掌握最常見的「進行式+when+簡單式」組合,時間子句的完整用法將於第 36 課細學。
當一個「持續的背景動作」被一個「短暫的打斷動作」插入時,常見的敘事模式為:
• 持續的背景動作 → 常用過去進行式(was / were + V-ing)
• 短暫的打斷動作 → 常用過去簡單式(V-ed / 不規則過去式)
常見搭配:S + was/were + V-ing + when + S + 過去簡單式。
例如:I was watching TV when someone knocked on the door.(我正在看電視時,有人敲門。)
注意:when 也可引導進行式,並非只能用簡單式;本課先掌握最常見的「進行式+when+簡單式」組合,時間子句的完整用法將於第 36 課細學。
④ while 表示同時進行
while 常用來連接「兩個同時正在進行」的動作,前後常用過去進行式:
例如:While I was doing my homework, my mother was cooking dinner.
注意:while 之後也常見過去簡單式(例如 while he was here),並非絕對只能用進行式;本課先聚焦最常見的「while + 過去進行式」用法。
while 常用來連接「兩個同時正在進行」的動作,前後常用過去進行式:
例如:While I was doing my homework, my mother was cooking dinner.
注意:while 之後也常見過去簡單式(例如 while he was here),並非絕對只能用進行式;本課先聚焦最常見的「while + 過去進行式」用法。
🔑 易錯警示:(1) 過去進行式不可漏 be 動詞,也不可寫成 be 加原形動詞:He was watch TV.(❌)→ He was watching TV.(✅)(2) be 動詞須與主詞一致:They was playing.(❌)→ They were playing.(✅)(3) 狀態動詞(know、like、have 擁有等)通常不用進行式:I was knowing the answer.(❌)→ I knew the answer.(✅)
4句型公式
公式① 肯定句
S + was / were + V-ing + 時間
例如:She was cooking at six. / They were studying all morning.
公式② 否定句
S + wasn't / weren't + V-ing
例如:He wasn't sleeping. / We weren't talking.
公式③ 疑問句與簡答
Was / Were + S + V-ing ...?
簡答:Yes, S + was/were. 或 No, S + wasn't/weren't.
例如:Were you sleeping? — Yes, I was. / No, I wasn't.
公式④ 背景動作 + when + 打斷動作
S + was / were + V-ing + when + S + 過去簡單式
例如:I was taking a shower when the phone rang.
5基礎例句
規則① 過去某時刻正在進行
At eight o'clock last night, I was doing my homework.
昨晚八點,我正在寫功課。
文法分析:at eight o'clock last night 是過去明確時刻;主詞 I 用 was + doing。
This time yesterday, we were playing on the beach.
昨天這個時候,我們正在海灘上玩。
文法分析:this time yesterday 表過去時刻;主詞 we 用 were + playing。
The students were waiting for the bus at seven this morning.
今天早上七點,學生們正在等公車。
文法分析:at seven this morning 表過去時刻;主詞 The students 複數用 were + waiting。
規則② was / were 依主詞
My father was washing his car at that time.
那個時候,我爸爸正在洗車。
文法分析:主詞 My father 單數,用 was + washing。
You were sleeping when I called you last night.
昨晚我打電話給你時,你正在睡覺。
文法分析:主詞 you 不論單複數,be 動詞過去式用 were + sleeping。
It was raining hard all morning.
整個早上都在下大雨。
文法分析:主詞 It 單數,用 was + raining(rain 表天氣,視為單數)。
規則③ 與過去簡單式對比(when 打斷)
I was watching TV when someone knocked on the door.
有人敲門時,我正在看電視。
文法分析:看電視是持續的背景動作(was watching);敲門是打斷的短動作(knocked,過去簡單式)。
She was cooking dinner when the phone rang.
電話響時,她正在煮晚餐。
文法分析:煮晚餐是持續動作(was cooking);電話響是打斷動作(rang)。
They were walking home when it started to rain.
開始下雨時,他們正在走路回家。
文法分析:走路回家是持續動作(were walking);開始下雨是打斷動作(started)。
規則④ while 表示同時進行
While I was doing my homework, my mother was cooking dinner.
我在寫功課時,媽媽正在煮晚餐。
文法分析:while 連接兩個同時進行的動作,前後皆用過去進行式。
While they were singing, we were dancing.
他們在唱歌時,我們正在跳舞。
文法分析:while 表同時進行,兩個動作都用過去進行式。
The baby was sleeping while I was cleaning the room.
我在打掃房間時,寶寶正在睡覺。
文法分析:while 連接兩個同時持續的動作。
規則⑤ 否定、疑問與簡答
I wasn't sleeping at ten last night. I was reading.
昨晚十點我沒在睡覺。我在看書。
文法分析:過去進行式否定 wasn't + V-ing。
Were you listening to me? — Yes, I was.
你剛才在聽我說話嗎? — 是的,我在聽。
文法分析:過去進行式疑問 Were + S + V-ing;簡答用 Yes, I was。
What were you doing at that time?
那個時候你在做什麼?
文法分析:Wh- 過去進行式疑問 What were + S + V-ing。
6正確 vs. 錯誤比較
釐清過去進行式最常見的錯誤:缺 V-ing、be 動詞不一致、狀態動詞誤用、when 搭配。
❌ I was watch TV at eight last night.
錯誤原因:was 後須接 V-ing,不能接原形動詞 watch。
⭕ I was watching TV at eight last night.
was + watching 結構完整。
❌ They was playing in the park.
錯誤原因:複數主詞 They 須搭配 were。
⭕ They were playing in the park.
be 動詞與主詞一致:They → were。
❌ He were sleeping at that time.
錯誤原因:單數主詞 He 須搭配 was。
⭕ He was sleeping at that time.
單數主詞用 was。
❌ I was knowing the answer.
錯誤原因:know 是認知狀態動詞,通常不用進行式。
⭕ I knew the answer.
狀態動詞用過去簡單式 knew。
❌ She was study when I called.
錯誤原因:was 後須接 V-ing,不能接原形動詞 study。
⭕ She was studying when I called.
was + studying。
❌ We was having dinner at seven.
錯誤原因:複數主詞 We 須搭配 were。
⭕ We were having dinner at seven.
be 動詞與主詞一致:We → were。
❌ The phone rang while I was take a shower.
錯誤原因:was 後須接 V-ing,不能接原形動詞 take。
⭕ The phone rang while I was taking a shower.
was + taking。
7易混淆觀念
① 過去進行式 vs. 過去簡單式
| 比較項目 | 過去進行式 | 過去簡單式 |
|---|---|---|
| 動作性質 | 常描述持續的背景動作 | 常描述短暫、完成的動作 |
| 結構 | was / were + V-ing | V-ed / 不規則過去式 |
| 典型例句 | I was reading at nine. | I read a book last night. |
| when 搭配 | 背景:was reading | 打斷:when he called |
② 過去進行式 vs. 現在進行式
| 比較項目 | 現在進行式 | 過去進行式 |
|---|---|---|
| 時間 | 現在此刻 | 過去某時刻 |
| be 動詞 | am / is / are | was / were |
| 時間線索 | now、right now | at that time、this time yesterday |
| 例句 | He is sleeping now. | He was sleeping at ten last night. |
③ when vs. while(初步比較)
| 連接詞 | 常見用法 | 例句 |
|---|---|---|
| when | 引導打斷的短動作(常搭配過去簡單式) | I was reading when he called. |
| while | 引導同時進行的動作(常搭配過去進行式) | While I was reading, he was writing. |
💡 when 與 while 的完整用法(含時間子句)將於第 36 課細學。本課只需先掌握最常見的搭配:when + 打斷(過去簡單式)、while + 同時進行(過去進行式)。
8判斷技巧:解題五步走
- 找過去時間線索:看到 at eight o'clock last night、at that time、this time yesterday、all morning 等,優先考慮過去進行式。
- 判斷動作性質:是「持續進行的背景動作」還是「短暫打斷的動作」?常見搭配中,持續背景常用進行式,打斷動作常用過去簡單式。
- 選對 be 動詞:單數主詞(I / he / she / it / 單數名詞)用 was;複數主詞(we / you / they / 複數名詞)用 were。
- 動詞加 -ing 並檢查拼字:一般直接加;不發音 e 結尾去 e(take → taking);短母音「子音+母音+子音」雙寫(run → running);-ie 結尾改 y 加 ing(lie → lying);w、x、y 結尾通常不雙寫(fix → fixing);多音節字通常在末音節重讀時雙寫末字母(begin → beginning),部分動詞及英美拼字可能有例外。
- 檢查 when / while 搭配:when 後常接打斷的過去簡單式;while 後常接同時進行的過去進行式。
🎯 會考實戰心法:過去進行式最愛考三個陷阱——① 漏掉 be 動詞或誤用原形動詞 ② be 動詞與主詞不一致 ③ 持續動作與打斷動作顛倒。看到「was/were + V-ing + when + 過去式」的組合,先確認哪個是背景、哪個是打斷。
9基礎練習(10 題)
測驗單一概念:was/were 選擇、V-ing 拼字、否定疑問結構、時間線索。
10進階練習(10 題)
混合本課與先前課程(第 2、5、6、11、12、13 課),每題至少用到兩課概念。
11會考情境題(8 題)
融合真實語境,測試在對話、短文與閱讀中正確使用過去進行式的能力。
12解答總覽
13本課重點整理(考前 60 秒速覽)
- 用途:過去某時刻正在進行的背景動作;配 at 8 o'clock last night、at that time、this time yesterday。
- 結構:was / were + V-ing;單數主詞用 was,複數主詞用 were(you 不論單複數皆用 were)。
- 與過去簡單式分工:常見搭配——進行式描述持續背景,簡單式描述打斷動作(was reading when he called)。
- when / while:when 常接打斷的過去簡單式;while 常接同時進行的過去進行式(完整用法見第 36 課)。
- 否定/疑問:否定 wasn't / weren't + V-ing;疑問 Was / Were + S + V-ing;簡答 Yes, S + was/were。
🔑 一句話記憶口訣:「過去某刻正進行,was/were 加 ing;背景被打斷,when 後接過去式。」
14自我檢查
🎉 太棒了!你已通過本課自我檢查。過去進行式完整掌握!下一課將學習未來式 will / be going to。