一般过去时“闯五关”

陈　祥

一般过去时是英语王国里的一个重量级“人物”。要想了解它,就必须过以下五关:

第一关:概念

一般过去时表示发生在过去、现在已经结束的事情或动作;也可以表示过去所处的状态。例如:

I went to the zoo last weekend. 上周末我去动物园了。

He was a fireman. 他过去是一个消防队员。

第二关:信息标志词

与一般过去时连用的时间状语有just now, yesterday, the day before yesterday(前天), (three days, one month ...) ago, last(week, month ...), on Sunday morning (afternoon, evening ...)等。例如:

We went to the park three days ago. 三天前我们去了那个公园。

第三关:动词

具体变化规则请看下表:

第四关:句式

1. 含有was / were的一般过去时的否定句是在was / were后加not;一般疑问句是将was / were提到句首,其肯定回答为“Yes, 主语 + was / were”;否定回答为“No, 主语 + wasnt / werent”。例如:

They werent late for school this morning. 今天早上他们上学没有迟到。

—Was your summer vacation fun?你的暑假过得愉快吗?

—Yes, it was. / No, it wasnt. 是的,很愉快。/ 不,不愉快。

2. 含有实义动词的一般过去时的否定句是在主语后加didnt,且把原句中的动词过去式还原为动词原形;一般疑问句是在主语前加did,原句中的动词过去式也要还原为动词原形,其肯定回答为“Yes, 主语 + did”;否定回答为“No, 主语 + didnt”。例如:

He didnt practise English yesterday. 昨天他没有练习英语。

—Did you go to a movie last night?昨天晚上你去看电影了吗?

—Yes, I did. / No, I didnt. 是的,我去了。/ 不,我没去。

第五关:特殊用法

1. 一般过去时也用于表示在过去一段时间内经常性或习惯性的动作。例如:

We often played together when we were children. 小时候我们常在一起玩。

I always asked some strange questions when I was at primary school. 我上小学时总是问一些奇怪的问题。

2. 一般过去时还可以表示现在,但语气听起来比用一般现在时委婉多了。例如:

Would you like some milk?你想要一些牛奶吗?

Could you lend me your pen?你能把钢笔借给我吗?

【巩固精练】

用括号内的动词或短语的正确形式填空。[get up, do, have breakfast, have a rest, watch, be, go to bed, have a good time, wash, wear]

It is Sunday. I 1 at seven oclock, then I 2 my face. At seven thirty, I 3 . Then I 4 my homework, washed my clothes and did some housework. After lunch, I 5 ,then I 6 my sports shoes and went to the gym to play basketball. In the evening, I 7 TV. I 8 at nine thirty. I 9 very busy but I 10 today.

Keys:1. got up 2. washed 3. had breakfast 4. did 5. had a rest 6. wore 7. watched 8. went to bed 9. was 10. had a good time