一般过去时用法说明 1. 一般过去时表过去 (1) 表示过去发生的动作或存在的状态:http://yingyu.chazidian.com He bought the computer five years ago. 这电脑是他五年前买的。 It was then a small fishing village.那时它只是一个小渔村。 (2) 表示过去经常性或习惯性的动作: We often played together when we were children.我们小时候常在一起玩。 【注】表过去习惯性的动词,也可用used to或would: He used to go to work by bus. 他过去常乘公共汽车去上班。
2. 一般过去时表现在 (1) 在宾语从句中,由于时态呼应的关系,可用一般过去时表示现在: I didn’t know you were here. 我不知道你在这儿。(were实际上指现在) I didn’t know you were so busy.我没想到你这么忙。(were实际上指现在) (2) 表示客气委婉的现在: I wondered if you were free this evening. 不知您今晚是否有空。 I thought you might like some flowers. 我想您也许想要些花。 【注】能这样有的动词主要限于want, wonder, think, hope, intend等少数动词。 (3) 用于某些特殊结构中表示现在 It’s time we started. 我们该动身了。 I wish I knew his name. 要是我知道他的名字就好了。 I’d rather you lived closer to us. 我希望你能住得离我们近点。 【注】该用法主要用于it’s time, I wish, I’d rather, if only, as if, as though 等少数结构后接从句的情形,其中有些结构后面的句子还可用一般过去时表示将来: I’d rather you come next Monday. 我宁愿你下周星期一来。 另外表主观想法的虚拟条件句也用一般过去时表示现在: If I had the money now I’d buy a car. 假若我现在有钱,我就买辆小汽车。