Cách sử dụng:
Cấu trúc chung: Subject + WAS / WERE + [verb-ing] + ...
Thời quá khứ tiếp diễn dùng để diễn đạt:
(1) Một hành động đang xảy ra trong quá khứ thì bị một hành động khác “chen ngang” (khi đang... thì bỗng...).
Cấu trúc: Subject1 + Past Progressive + WHEN + Subject2 + Simple Past + ...
- I was watching TV when she came home.
Cấu trúc: WHEN + Subject1 + Simple Past, Subject2 + Past Progressive
- When she came home, I was watching television.
(2) Hai hành động cùng đồng thời xảy ra trong quá khứ.
Cấu trúc chung: Subject1 + Past Progressive + WHILE + Subject2 + Past Progressive
- Martha was watching television while John was reading a book.
Cấu trúc chung: WHILE + Subject1 + Past Progressive + Subject2 + Past Progressive
- While John was reading a book, Martha was watching television.
Cấu trúc chung: Subject1 + Past Progressive + WHILE + Subject2 + Simple Past
- While John was reading a book, Martha watched television. (ít thông dụng hơn)
(3) Một hành động đang xảy ra tại một thời điểm xác định trong quá khứ.
- Martha was watching TV at seven o’clock last night.
- What were you doing at one o’clock this afternoon?
- Henry was eating a snack at midnight last night.
