怎么区别英语的一般过去时和过去进行时？

两者的基本差别是过去进行时通常表示一个过去正在进行且尚未完成的动作，而一般过去时则通常表示一个过去已经完成的动作。

如：I was reading a book last night. 我昨晚在看书。(不一定看完)

I read a book last night. 我昨晚看了一本书。(已经看完)

They were building a bridge there. 他们在那里修一座桥。(不一定建成)

They built a bridge there. 他们在那儿修了一座桥。(已建成)

【注】有些动词(如rain, snow, cough, wear, feel, work等)本身并不表示动作完成，这时用两种时态都可以，且含义区别不大。

如：It rained [was raining] all day yesterday. 昨天下了一天的雨。
She feel [wasn’t feeling] well that day. 那天她感到不太舒服。

一．一般过去时叙述旧事，过去进行时描述背景。 　　Ａ、一般过去时 　　１）叙述过去状态、动作或事件 　　He went to Beijing the other day.（带具体时间） 　　２）表示过去的习惯 　　a) would ,used to与过去时 　　would 表间断性不规则的习惯，常带频率时间 　　used to 表一贯性有规律的习惯 　　They used to meet and would sometimes exchange one or two words. 　　He smoked a lot two years ago. （过去行为） 　　b) Would 用于文中不用于句首，只表过去习惯。 　　Used to 表今昔对比的含义，叙述习惯动作可与would 换用。 　　When he was a boy , he would often go there . （叙述过去） 　　She isn’t what she used to be. (今昔对比) 　　c) 表示状态时一般只用used to 　　Tom used to be fat /There used to stand a tree there. (状态) 　　d) was (were) used to +ving表示“合适于，适应于…..” 　　He used to work at night . (“习惯”表经常) 　　He was used to working at night. (习惯表适应) 　　３）表示过去的经历，平行动作，依此事件用一般过去时。 　　He sat there and listened to the radio.(依此发生) 　　４）表示客气委婉的语气，用于情态动词，助动词和want , wonder , hope 等 　　How did you like the film? / Could you help me? 　　B. 过去进行时 　　－表示在过去某阶段或某一时刻正在发生 　　What were you doing at 8:30 last night? (过去某时刻正在发生) 　　－短暂性动词用过去进行时表示按计划、打算 　　During that time he was going with us.(表示打算) 　　－与always ,often ,usually 等连用表喜爱，讨厌等感情色彩。 　　He was always Changing his mind. 　　二、过去进行时与一般过去时的区别 　　A. 进行时表某一行为的“片断”一般时表示行为的“整体”和存在的状态。 　　I was reading the book at that time. (未读完，“读”的片段) 　　I read the book yesterday. (已读完，表整个“读”) 　　B、一般持续时间状语多与进行时连用 　　It was raining all night.(优先用was raining ,rained 为持续动词，故也可使用) 　　He was writing a letter the whole of afternoon. (短暂动词与持续时间连用，表反复，连续发生，不可用一般过去时) 　　C、while 时间状语从句中用短暂动词时只能用进行时。 　　例：He broke a chair while he was jumping up and down. 　　D、While 所在主从句动作大致持续相等时主从句一般都用进行时，但若是持续动词可都用一般过去时，两个动作一长一短时短的用一般时，长的用进行时。 　　I was cooking the dinner while he was playing the piano.(平行) 　　I cooked the dinner while he played the piano. 　　I saw him while I was walking to the station. 　　三、英语中有四类动词一般不用进行时（不用现在进行时和过去进行时） 　　1)表心理状态、情感的动词，如love ,hate ,like ,care ,respect ,please ,prefer ,know 等，若用进行时则词意改变。 　　I’m forgetting it . (=beginning to forget ) 　　2)表存在、状态的动词，如appear ,exist ,lie ,remain ,stand ,seem等 　　3)表感觉的动词，如see ,hear ,feel ,smell ,sound ,taste等. 　　4)表一时性的动词，如accept ,allow ,admit ,decide ,end ,refuse ,permit ,promise等。 　　[示例] 　　考题1 As she ____the newspaper ,Granny ____ asleep .(95) 　　A. read /was falling B .was reading /fell 　　C. Was reading /was falling D. read/fell 　　分析 时间从句的动作长，而“入睡”动作短，故前者用过去进行时，而较短动词用一般过去时，选B 　　考题2 Tom ___ into the house when no one ___ . 　　A. slipped/was looking B. Had slipped /looked 　　C. slipped/had looked D. was slipping /looked 　　分析 此题先要理解好when ，表“此时”，说明主句中slipped是较短行为，而look是较长行为的片断，即汤姆溜进房子，此时没人瞧见，故选A为正确。 　　[训练] 　　1. –Is Smith in America ? ----Yes, he ___ in China for there years. 　　A. lives B. Has lived C. Lived D. was living 　　2. The method he had stuck -___ right . 　　A. to prove B. To proved C. To be proved D. were proved 　　3. –Why didn’t Miss Green go there ? 　　　-She would have gone there expect ____ enough time. 　　A. she had B. She had had C. She didn’t have D. she would have 　　4. Am didn’t see me wave to her , she ____ in other direction. 　　A. looked B. Was looking C. Has looked D. is looking 　　5. Tom burnt his hand when he ____ the dinner. 　　A. cooked B. Was cooking C. Has been cooking D. had cooked 　　6. Mary ____ a dress when she cut he rfinger. 　　A. made B. Is making C. Was making D. had made