一般过去时是排位第二的常用时态，在所有时态的使用统计中占比是30%。
用法
1. 表示在过去某个时间发生的动作或存在的状态，句子中通常有yesterday, just now, last year, three weeks ago等。I was a student ten years ago.
2. 表示在过去一段时间经常性、反复性的动作，常与always（总是）、often（经常）、usually（通常）、seldom（很少）、every day（每天）、sometimes（有时）等连用。When I was in primary school, I usually walked to school.
含有be动词的结构
1. 肯定句结构：主语+was/were+表语。I was happy. I/he/she/it做主语，后边用was，we/you/they做主语，后边用were。注意此时没有缩略形式。
2. 否定句：主语+was/were not+表语。I was not happy. 缩略式：was not = wasn’t; were not = weren’t。
3. 一般疑问句：Was/Were+主语+表语？肯定的回答：Yes, 主语+was/were. 否定回答：No, 主语+wasn’t/weren’t. Were you happy? Yes, I was. No, I wasn’t.
4. 特殊疑问句：特殊疑问词+was/were+主语+（表语）？Why were you late this morning?
含有其它动词的结构
1. 肯定句结构：主语+动词过去式+其它。I laughed.
2. 否定句结构：主语+did not/didn’t+动词原形+其它。I didn’t laugh.
3. 一般疑问句结构：Did+主语+动词原形+其它？Did you laugh?
4. 特殊疑问句结构：特殊疑问词+did+主语+动词原形+其它？What did you do?
动词过去式
规则动词的过去式和过去分词变化方法是一样的，不规则动词的过去式需要专门记忆，比如：run->ran, get->got, forget->forgot, cut->cut, swim->swam, begin->began, hit->hit。
