四、 一般过去时

一般过去时由动词的过去式表示，动词be有was, were两个过去式，was用于第一、三人称单数，were用于其他情况。在构成否定及疑问句时，一般都借助助动词did, 动词be有其独特的疑问及否定形式（基本上和一般现在时一致）。这个时态的三种结构可表示如下：

一般动词：

i worked there.

i did not work there.

did you work there?

动词be:

i was there.

i was not there.

was i there?

一般过去时主要表示过去某时发生的动作或情况（包括习惯性动作）

who put forward the suggestion?

when did she leave?

she often came to help us.

有些情况，发生的时间不很清楚，但实际上是过去发生的，应当用过去时态：

i was glad to get your letter.

what was the final score?

how did you like their performance?

*在谈到已死去人的情况多用过去时：

lao she was a great writer.

my grandmother was kind to us.

有时两种时态都可以用：

brahms was/is one of the greatest representative of german classicalism.

注：在口语中一般过去时有时可用来代替一般现在时，使语气变得婉转一些，例如在下面句子中用一般现在时或一般过去时都可以，但用过去时显得客气一些（带有更多商量的口吻）：

do/did you want to see me?

i wonder/wondered if you could spare a few minutes.

i want/wanted to ask if i can/could borrow your bike.