Book II  Lesson 9  Cathy was a little heavy last year

過 去 簡 單 式

一已結束的動作

表示過去發生的，而現在已經結束的事件動作或情況，也可能是最近發生的。

1剛才

Sam phoned a moment ago.

2必要說明時間

I had a word with Julian this morning.

3由上下文表明時間

I saw Fred in town.(when I was there this morning.)

I never met my grandfather.(he is dead )

*用過去簡單式時，通常指動作何時發生，而不指動作持續多久。

4過去的習慣

和used to 一樣，表示過去的習慣性動作

I smoked forty cigarettes a day till I gave up.

*5剛才

用簡單過去式表示剛剛發生過的事情，而不必說明時間

Jimmy hit me in the head.

Did the telephone ring?

Who left the door open?

6 客氣的詢問（請人幫忙時）

常用的動詞 ：hope, think, wonder。

I wonder if you could give me a lift

I wondered if you could give me a lift.(語氣更加不肯定/客氣)

7與過去簡單式連用的副詞語

○       某些副詞語，如yesterday, last summer 等及帶ago的片語只能與過去式連用

I saw Jane yesterday/last summer.

◎     ago 的意思是 back form now（在現在之前） 可與各種詞語連用表示過去，如two years ago, six months ago, ten minutes, a long time ago

I met Robert many years ago in Taichung.

＆過去式常與 一起進行問答

When did you learn abut it? – When I saw it in the papers.

□       常表示與現在做明顯的對比

I played football everyday when I was a boy.

※   其他副詞語指過去時間，可與過去時態連用：

I always liked Gloria.(過去一向)

I often saw her in Rome.

Did you ever meet Sonia?

I never met Sonia.

＃ 副詞/介詞片語

We left at 4 o’clock on Tuesday.

We had our holiday in July.

﹪副詞子句

I waited till he arrived.

I met him when I was at college.

*  as＋副詞＋as

I saw him as recently as last week.(我上星期才見過他)

Reference: Longman English Grammar