英语动词时态用法归纳：一般过去时
一、构成
由动词的过去式表示。be 和have分别为was / were和had.
二、基本用法
(1) 表示过去某个时间发生的动作或存在的状态。这个时间可以通过具体的时间状语、从句或上下文等来表示。如：
She bought her friend a present yesterday. 她昨天买了一件礼物给她的朋友。
I lived in this village when I was a boy. 当我还是个孩子的时候我住在这个村庄里。
I went to the city, but my brother remained at home. 我去了城市，可弟弟留在了家里。
I couldn't sew until I was six. 我直到六岁时才会用针缝东西。
—Alice is not coming to your birthday party tonight.
—But she promised.
—艾利斯今晚不来参加你的生日聚会了。
—但是她答应要来的。
(2) 表示过去经常性或习惯性的动作。如：
We used to go there every year. 我每年都去那儿。
We often played together when we were children．我们小时候常在一起玩。
The little boy made a living by selling newspaper. 那个小男孩靠卖报谋生。
She usually went out on Saturday nights. 她通常在周六晚上外出。
(3) 有些情况，发生的时间虽然不很清楚，但实际上是过去发生的，也要用过去时。如：
It was a pity you didn’t go to the lecture. 很遗憾你没去听讲座。
I was glad to hear from you. 很高兴收到你的信。
How did you like the film? 你觉得这部电影怎样？
三、一般过去时表现在
(1) 少数动词want, wonder, think, hope, intend等的一般过去时表示委婉的现在。如：
Did You Want to tell me something? 你想告诉我什么吗?。
I wondered if you could have a word with me. 请问您能否和我谈一谈。
I thought you might like some flowers. 我想您也许想要些花。
I hoped you could help me with my English. 我希望你能帮我学英语。
(2) 在宾语从句中，因时态呼应的关系，可用一般过去时表示现在。如：
I didn’t know you were in
I clearly forgot it was my birthday today. 我确实忘了今天是我的生日。
(3) think, mean等动词的过去时表示与现在事实相反的情况。如：
I meant to get up early, but forgot to set the alarm.我本想要早起，但忘记了上闹钟。
I never thought to work here.我从未料到会在这儿上班。
I didn’t expect to meet you here. 我没想到在这儿碰到你。
(4)在某些句型中一般过去时表示现在或将来。如：
It’s high time you started. 你早就该动身了。
I wish I were 30 years younger. 我但愿自己能年轻三十岁。
I wish I had a car some day. 要是我们来日有一辆车多好啊。
I’d rather it were winter now. 我但愿现在是冬天。
I’d rather you come next Monday. 我宁愿你下周星期一来。
If I had the money now, I would buy an English-English dictionary. 如果我现在有钱，我就买本英-英词典。
She talked as if he knew everything. 她说话的神情，好像她什么都知道似的。