一般過去時主要表示過去某時發(fā)生的動作或情況。可以從以下幾個方面來理解：1)過去某個時間所發(fā)生的動作或存在的狀態(tài)。e.g. I bought a new shirt yesterday. He was a worker two years ago.2)過去一段時間內(nèi)，經(jīng)常性或習(xí)慣性的動作。e.g. When I was a child,I often played with fire. Li Lei always walked to school last term.3)談到已故人的情況時多用過去時。e.g. Lu Xun was a great writer.4)有些發(fā)生時間不是很清楚的情況，實際是過去發(fā)生的，也應(yīng)用過去時態(tài)。e.g. What did you say?

　　另外，還可用過去時表示委婉的語氣。e.g. Could you lend me your pen?

　　其結(jié)構(gòu)是"主語+動詞的過去式"。be動詞的過去式為was, were;行為動詞的過去式有規(guī)則變化和不規(guī)則變化兩種，規(guī)則變化有以下幾種情況：1)直接在動詞原形末尾加-ed. e.g. work-----worked; ask------asked; 2)以e結(jié)尾的動詞只加-d. e.g. arrive-----arrived; like-----liked.3)末尾只有一個輔音字母的重讀閉音節(jié),應(yīng)先雙寫這個輔音字母,再加-ed. e.g. shop-----shopped; 4)以"輔音字母+y"結(jié)尾的動詞,先把y變成i,再加-ed. e.g. carry----carried; study------studied.有些動詞變過去式是不規(guī)則的,e.g. fly------flew; break-----broke; teach-----taught. 這些需要象生單詞一樣記住.

　　其句式變化分為兩種情況1)含有be動詞的依然在be上做文章. e.g. I was born in 1980. I was not born in 1980. Were you born in 1980? 2)含有行為動詞的變否定句要在行為動詞前加助動詞didn't.,同時把動詞變成原形; 變一般疑問句,在句首加助動詞did,同時把動詞變成原形. e.g. I bought a gift for my mum yesterday. I didn't buy a gift for my mum yesterday. Did you buy a gift for your mum yesterday?

　　其時間狀語為yesterday或由其構(gòu)成的短語,e.g. yesterday morning; 由"last+時間"構(gòu)成的短語, e.g. last year; 由"時間段+ago"構(gòu)成的短語, e.g. three days ago; 另外,還有on the morning of Monday, just now等,以及一些表示過去時態(tài)的從句.注意,在賓語從句中主句為過去,一般從句也為過去.

　　自主檢測:

　　(一 )選擇

　　1 She lived there before he____to China.

　　A. came B. comes C. come D. coming

　　2 I _____but_____nothing.

　　A . was listened;was hearing B. listened;heard

　　C . have listened; heard D. listened; heard of

　　3 When did you ____here?

　　A. got to B. reached C. arrive in D. reach

　　4 I____my homework at 7:00 yesterday evening.

　　A. finished B. would finish C. was finishing D. finish

　　5 -He didn't go shopping with you yesterday afternoon, did he?

　　- _______.

　　A. No, he doesn't B. Yes, he didn't C. No, he did D. Yes, he did.

　　6 -I have had supper.

　　- When ____you____it?

　　A. have; had B. do, have C. did,have D. will have

　　答案: 1 A 2 B 3 D 4 A 5 D 6 C

　　(二) 填空

　　1 They____(be) on the farm a moment ago.

　　2 There____(be)a shop not long ago.

　　3 Jenny____(not go)to bed until 11:00 o'clock last night.

　　4 Danny _____(read )English five minutes ago.

　　5 I _____(see)Li Lei ____(go) out just now.

　　6 He ____(do)his homework every day. But he __(not do)it yesterday.

　　7 When I was young, I _____(play)games with my friends.

　　8 When ____you_____(write)this book?

　　I _____it last year.

　　9 Did he____(have) lunch at home?

　　10 I _____(eat) the bread, I 'm full now.

　　答案:1 were 2 was 3 didn't go 4 read 5 saw go

　　6 does ; didn't do 7 played 8 did write ; wrote 9 have 10 have eaten

　　常見錯誤如下: 　　　　一、把動詞變成過去式易出錯

　　例: 1 They stoped (stop) talking just now.

　　2 They plaied (play) football yesterday.

　　答案: 1 stopped 2 played

　　解析:我們可以記住下面的口訣:"動詞變成過去式,雙寫規(guī)律要牢記;y前若是輔音字,y變i加-ed;y前若是元音字,只須直接加-ed."

　　二、忘記把動詞變成過去式

　　例: I fly (fly) kites on the afternoon of Sunday.

　　答案: flew

　　解析:我們可以記住下面的口訣:"一般過去時態(tài)里,過去形式莫忘記".

　　三、在句式變換時易出錯

　　例: 1 We didn't went (not go) out last Friday.

　　2 Did you had (have) a good time yesterday?

　　答案: 1 didn't go 2 Did have

　　解析:請記住口訣"見助動, 用原形."

　　四、易與單三人稱作主語的一般現(xiàn)在時弄混

　　例: He taughts (teach) me English last year.

　　答案: taught

　　解析:行為動詞的過去式無人稱和數(shù)的變化.即使主語是單三人稱,也和其它人稱所用動詞的形式一樣.

　　五、易與現(xiàn)在完成時弄混

　　例: 我看過這部電影

　　I saw(see) the film.

　　答案: I have seen (see) the film.

　　解析:"我看過這部電影"說明我了解這部電影的內(nèi)容,強調(diào)現(xiàn)在的情況,應(yīng)用現(xiàn)在完成時;

　　一般過去時態(tài)的句子只是說明我看了這場電影,與現(xiàn)在無關(guān)..