一般过去时（The Simple Past/The Past Indefinite Tense）
1. 构成
动词的过去式
2. 功能
ZZ1 表示过去某个特定时间或某一段时间发生的动作或情况
这种用法的过去时间可以是指明的，也可以是不指明的。例如：
He never smoked. 他以前从不吸烟。
The skies cleared after lunch. 午饭后天放晴了。
The foreign guests visited Shanghai last spring. 这些外国客人去年春天访问过上海。
We had a grand view of a sea of clouds when we climbed to the top of the Yellow Mountain. 我们爬上黄山之巅时,看到了云海的壮观景象。
ZZ2 在表示时间或条件等的状语从句中代替过去将来时
We would not leave until she came back. 她回来我们才会离开。
She told me that she would not go with us if it rained the next day. 她对我说，如果次日下雨她就不同我们一起去。
I didn't go to the party that evening as I started off on the journey at dawn. 那天晚上我没有去参加聚会，因为我黎明时要出发去旅行。
ZZ3 表示现在时间
这种用法使句子在语气上较为婉转客气，能这样用的动词为数不多，如：hope，wish, want，wonder，think，intend等。例如：
I didn't know you were here. 我不知道你在这里。
I hoped you would come and have dinner with us. 我希望你能来和我们一起吃饭。
I thought I might come and see you later this evening. 我想我可以在今晚晚些时候来见你吧。
Did you want to see me now? 你现在想见我吗？
I wondered if you'd look after my mother when I'm absent. 不知我不在时你能否照顾一下我母亲。
你要见我吗？
Did you wish to see me？（委婉）
Do you wish to see me？（较生硬）
ZZ4 表示将来发生的事或过去将来发生的事
It will be a great thing for the future generations to know that I laid down my life here for the country. 未来的人们知道我在这里为国捐躯了，那会多好啊！
She said that the investigation started the next day. 她说调查次日开始。
She told me that school opened on the following day. 她告诉我，学校将在次日开学。
ZZ5 表示过去的习惯动作
When she was in the city，she often went to the Central Supermarket. 她在这座城市期间，常去中央商场。
Wherever he travelled in those years，he wrote down what he saw and heard. 那些年里，他每到一个地方旅行，总会把所见所闻记下来。
ZZ6 表示某种感情色彩
You asked for it！你这是自找！（责备）
I told you so. 我早就告诉过你。（你就是不听）
Did you ever hear of such a thing？你听见过这种事吗？（当然没有）
ZZ7 一般过去时、一般现在时和现在完成时几组句子差异的比较
Who is the woman in the picture? 照片上这个妇女是谁？（不知已去世，故用is）
She was my mother. 她是我母亲。（用was表示已去世）
她父亲是个化学家。
Her father was a chemist. （生前，已去世）
Her father is a chemist. （尚健在）
那就是我要说的。
That's all I had to say. （要说的话都说了）
That's all I have to say. （说是说了，但仍言之未尽）
你觉得舞蹈怎么样？
How did you like the dancing？（舞蹈已看完）
How do you like the dancing？（仍在看的过程中或随便谈谈）
见到你真高兴。
It was so nice to see you. （见面后离别时）
It is so nice to see you. （刚见面时）
她总是那样。
She always was that way. （过去一贯如此）
She always is that way. （总是那样）
莎士比亚是《哈姆雷特》的作者。
Shakespeare was the author of Hamlet. （皆属过去）
Shakespeare is the author of Hamlet. （不朽的作品使作者永生）
简今天上午做了许多事。
Jane did a lot of work this morning. （话是当天下午或晚上讲的）
Jane has done a lot of work this morning. （仍是上午，话是中午以前讲的）
你看过《奥赛罗》这部电影吗？
Did you see the film Othello？（此片已不在放映）
Have you seen the film Othello？（此片目前仍在放映）
I never liked her. 我从来就不喜欢她。（相当于have never liked）
I never like her. 我绝不喜欢她。
How did she paint the wall? 她怎么刷的墙？（站在桌子上还是在梯子上）
How has she painted the wall? 她把墙刷成什么样子了？（什么颜色）
Where did I put my wallet? 我把钱包放在哪儿了呢？（当时）
Where have I put my wallet? 我把钱包放在哪儿了呢？（现在在哪儿呢）
What is her name? 她叫什么名字？
What was her name? 你刚才说她叫什么来着？(＝What did you say her name was?)
He told me this morning that he's only eighteen. 他今天上午告诉我他只有18岁。（今年的情况）
He told me last year that he was only eighteen. 他去年告诉我他只有18岁。（去年的情况）
【提示】个别特别出名的人，可用两种时态。例如：
Kant was/is one of the greatest philosophers in the world. 康德是世界上最伟大的哲学家之一。
Brahms is/was the last great representative of German classicism. 勃拉姆斯是德国古典音乐最后一个伟大的代表。