3-13. Past Progressive

 
При употреблении Past Progressive происходит фактически «перенос» Present Progressive в прошлое (т.е. выражается действие в процессе совершения в какой-то момент в прошлом):

1. «Одиночное» действие.

He [was walking] to school at 8:30 this morning.
What were you doing at eight o'clock yesterday evening? I was watching TV (нельзя: ‘What did you do ...’? – ‘I watched TV ’).
When I got up this morning the sun [was shining], the birds [were singing], ... (нельзя: ‘... the sun shone, the birds sang ... ’ )
I was telephoning George Lamb only an hour ago.
While I was cooking an omelette, Mary was making a salad.

■ Момент времени часто задается описанием другого действия:

Karen was washing her hair when the phone rang.

2. Серия действий.

Jake was coughing all night long.
George was getting up at five o'clock every day that week.
The postman was always putting your letters in my letter-box.

3. Состояние

I lived/was living in the country in 1972.

■ В придаточных клоз, как и другие формы прошедшего времени, может выражать «сослагательность»:

I wish we were going home.

■ Как и Present Progressive, Past Progressive может употребляться для того, чтобы сделать предложение менее определенным и тем самым более вежливым:

I was wondering whether you'd like to come out with me this evening
I was hoping you could lend me $10.