一、一般过去时表过去1. 表示过去发生的动作或存在的状态。如：He bought the computer five years ago. 这电脑是他五年前买的。It was then a small fishing village．那时它只是一个小渔村。2. 表示过去经常性或习惯性的动作。如：We often played together when we were children．我们小时候常在一起玩。【注】表过去习惯性的动词，也可用used to或would。如：He used to go to work by bus. 他过去常乘公共汽车去上班。

二、一般过去时表现在1. 在宾语从句中，由于时态呼应的关系，可用一般过去时表示现在。如：I didn’t know you were here. 我不知道你在这儿。(were实际上指现在)I didn’t know you were so busy．我没想到你这么忙。(were实际上指现在)2. 表示客气委婉的现在。如：I wondered if you were free this evening. 不知您今晚是否有空。I thought you might like some flowers. I thought you might like some flowers. 我想您也许想要些花。【注】能这样有的动词主要限于want, wonder, think, hope, intend等少数动词。3. 用于某些特殊结构中表示现在It’s time we started. 我们该动身了。I wish I knew his name. 要是我知道他的名字就好了。I’d rather you lived closer to us. 我希望你能住得离我们近点。【注】该用法主要用于it’s time, I wish, I’d rather, if only, as if, as though 等少数结构后接从句的情形，其中有些结构后面的句子还可用一般过去时表示将来。如：I’d rather you come next Monday. 我宁愿你下周星期一来。另外表主观想法的虚拟条件句也用一般过去时表示现在。如：
If I had the money now I’d buy a car. 假若我现在有钱，我就买辆小汽车。