1、表示在过去某个时间所发生的动作或所处的状态。常与yesterday, last week, in 1989, just now, a moment ago, the other day等连用。如:
He was here just now. 他刚才还在这里。
What did you do yesterday? 你昨天做了什么事?
2、在过去一段时间内的经常性或习惯性动作。如:
We often played together when we were children. 我们小时候常在一起玩。
注:表示过去经常发生的动作还可用used to 和would。如:
He used to smoke a lot, but he doesn't now. 他过去经常抽烟,但现在不抽了。
Whenever we were in trouble, he would help us. 每当我们遇到困难,他都会帮助我们。
3、表示主语过去的特征或性格。如:
At that time she was very good at English. 那时她英语学得很好。
4、用在
状语从句中表示过去将来。如:
He said he would wait until they came back.
5、
一般过去时有时可以表示现在,多与 want, hope, wonder, think, intend 等动词连用,使语气更委婉。如:
I wondered if you could help me. 不知你能不能帮我一下。
6、有时用一般过去时也是时态一致的需要。如:
I didn't know you were here. 没想到你在这里。
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