过去进行时和一般过去时的区别：
一、二者概念理解
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.过去状态、动作或事件
He went to Beijing the other day.（带具体时间）
2.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）
bWould 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)
dwas (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.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.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
1.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)
2.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)
3.lways ,often ,usually 等连用表喜爱，讨厌等感情色彩。
He was always Changing his mind.

二、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.