四、一般过去时和过去进行时

1.一般过去时的基本用法

（1）一般过去时（simple past tense）表示过去发生的事，都由动词的过去式表示：

I saw your sister a few days ago.

We went to the cinema last night.

（2）即使在前一分钟发生的事也要用过去时：

Just now he told me his mother was ill.

I saw her a minute ago.

（3）过去习惯性的动作也可用这个时态表示：

We often played together when we were children.

Mrs.Peter always carried an umbrella.

（4）有时情况发生的时间并不明显，但实际上是过去发生的，仍需用一般过去时：

How did you like their performance?

I didn't know you were so busy.

（5）在谈及已去世的人（的情况）时多用过去时：

Luxun was a great writer.

My grandmother was kind to us. （若奶奶尚在世，则需要用现在时）

谈特别出名的人有时可用现在时：

（6）在口语中，一般过去时可用来代替一般现在时，使口气显得更缓和，因此更客气：

2.was、were 的用法

（1）在一般过去时中，was 用于第一、三人称单数：

The girl was an orphan.

It was then a small fishing village.

（2）其他人称（第二人称单数及第二、三人称复数）都用were这个形式：

We were hungry after the long journey.

You were all educated in the same school.

（3） was 和 were 的否定形式分别为wasn't和weren't：

I wasn't interested in going.

We weren't in town that day.

（4）疑问句的构成法和一般现在时相似：

Were you an English major then?

Was she the only speaker?

也可用于其他问句：

Where were you at that time?

How many people were present?

3.和一般过去时连用的时间状语

（1）一般过去时常和一个表示过去时间的状语一起用，如last night (week, summer, etc.)，a year (two minutes, a while, etc.) ago, in 1993 (that year, the 1980's, etc.), at that time (moment), during the time (those years, etc.), yesterday, when 等：

I saw Jane yesterday ( last summer) .

This happened last Friday (many years ago) .

I played football every day when I was a boy .

（2）还可以和程度副词连用谈过去的情况：

We often talked together.

We met almost every day.

（3）但不用时间状语的时候也很多，特别是当上下文已表明了时间时：

He played many sports in high school .

She soon became fluent in English.

在小说、童话、传记等叙述性作品中绝大部分句子都用一般过去时。此外，还可用于虚拟语气。

4.过去进行时

（1）过去进行时（past progressive tense）表示过去某个时间某事正在进行，过去时间可由一时间状语表示，相当于现在进行时的过去形式：

During the summer of 1999 she was travelling in Europe.

I was reading the newspaper when the door bell rang.

（2）有时也可以没有表示时间的状语，时间由上下文表示出来：

1 waved to her but she wasn't looking .

Someone was following her.She was frightened.

（3）这个时态也常可用在状语从句中：

Jim burnt his hand when he was cooking the dinner.

While I was waiting for the bus I dropped my purse.

（4）这个时态常可用来描绘一片景象：

It was a dreadful morning.The snow was still falling , the wind was blowing , and the cars w ere skidding on the icy roads.

（5）还可描绘一个背景，在这个背景下故事逐渐展开，在很多小说的开头都可能看到这样的段落：

It was just before the Second World War.Bill was 18 at the time and was living with his mother.He was working in the post office and travelling all the time in the country delivering mail.One day, he received a mysterious letter.

5.过去进行时和一般过去时的比较

（1）过去进行时和一般过去时的基本差别是过去进行时表示一个正在进行尚未完成的动作，而一般过去时表示一个业已完成的动作：

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

（2）但有些动词本身并不表示动作完成，如rain、snow、cough、wear、feel、work等，这时用两种时态都可以，在意思上差别不大：

It rained all day yesterday.

It was raining all day yesterday.

She didn't feel well that day.

She wasn't feeling well that day.

（3）可用过去进行时表示过去的经常动作，可配合 always、forever、frequently 等副词，以强调该动作之经常重复性，略带感情色彩。

She was always thinking of others. （赞扬）

She was forever complaining . （厌烦）

有时用这种时态可使句子显得客气一些：

I was wondering if you could give me a lift.

I was hoping you would give me some advice.

6.表示从过去观点预计要发生的情况

有些结构可以用来表示过去某时打算做的事或估计要发生的情况：

（1）过去进行时（仅限于 come、go 这类表示动作的动词）：

Four of them were coming for Sunday lunch.

Her daughter was going to a summer camp the following day.

（2）be going to 表示“准备做某事”或“将要发生某事”：

He was going to buy her some shoes.

There was going to be a thunderstorm.

（3）be about to 表示“正要……”：

He waited until she was about to leave.

He was about to be transferred to another city.

（4）be due to 表示“定于（某时）……”：

She was due to graduate in the coming summer.

His book was due to be published in October.

（5）be on the point of 表示“正要……时（发生某事）”：

He was on the point of winning when he stumbled and fell.

I was just on the point of telephoning you.

7.used to 的用法

（1）“used to...”表示过去习惯性动作：

I used to write poetry when I was young.

We used to play chess together.

（2）也可表示过去的状态：

It used to be a prosperous town.

I used to share a room with my sister.

（3）这种结构的疑问句都借助 did 构成：

Did you use to play football?

You used to smoke a pipe, didn't you?

（4）否定结构也可借助 did 构成：

We didn't use to go to the beach during the summer.

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