2.

過去式的用法：

1.

敘述過去的動作或情況 —— 通常都將過去的時間明白表示出來。但是，對方若已經知道或上文已經提到是什麼時間，即不必再將時間副詞明示出來以免多此一舉。在詢問事情是何時發生的句子裡，疑問詞 (如 when) 即是指動作的時間。如：

(1)

She got up late so she had to leave without any breakfast in order to arrive in time; but she felt hungry all morning
(她起遲了，因此為了及時到達。她不吃早飯就得離開家；但她整個早晨都很餓。)

(2)

I tried to telephone you last night, but the line was out of order and I couldn't get through.
(昨晚我想打電話給你， 但線路出了毛病我打不通。)

(3)

An attack of the flu pulled him down badly and kept him away from work for a couple of weeks.
(流行性感冒的侵襲使他的身體非常虛弱，兩三個星期不能工作。)

(4)

Would you mind repeating what you said? I did not hear the end of your sentence.
(請將你所說的再說一遍好嗎? 後面的我沒聽見。)

(5)

He woke at seven, got out of bed, cleaned his teeth, washed, shaved, went downstairs, had breakfast, put his overcoat on, hurried to the bus stop, and caught a bus to the station.
(他七點鐘醒來，接著起床、刷牙、洗臉、刮鬍子、下樓、吃早飯、穿上了大衣，匆匆忙忙地趕到公共汽車站，登上了一輛公共汽車就到火車站去了。)

(6)

A:

When did you meet him?
(你什麼時候見過他?)

B:

I met him this morning.
(我今天早晨見到他的。)

(7)

A:

Where have you been?
(你去哪兒了?)

B:

I've been to the movies.
(我去看電影的。)

A:

Did you enjoy it?
(你喜不喜歡? —— 片子好不好?)

這種對話一開始為什麼用現在完成式 (have been) 來詢問? 請閱 p.583。

(註)

(a)

如果一個句子裡含有一個由 when 引領的副詞子句，而且和主要子句一樣都是過去式的動詞，when子句裡的動作是先發生的。如：

(1)

He waved his hand when he saw me.
(他看到我時揮了揮手。)

(2)

When she heard a strange noise, she got up to investigate.
(當她聽見一聲怪響，她起床查看。)

(b)

有些句子裡並沒有表示出時間是因為重點是在敘述事情的本身，時間並不重要；或者說話者認為對方已知是何時間。如：

(1)

He paid a thousand dollars for that bicycle.
(他花了一千塊錢買了那輛腳踏車。)

這句話的重點是在他買那輛腳踏車是花了一千塊錢，至於何時買的，甚至在什麼地方買的，沒有囉嗦的必要。

(2)

Did you sleep well?
(你睡得好不好?)

這句話如果是在吃早飯的時候說的，那就是指 "昨夜" (last night)，如果是在你說過 "你某天某日在某地住了一夜" 之後而對方問你的，那就是指 "那一夜" (that night)，不管是哪一種情形，對方當然會從當時的情況或上下文義領悟出你所指的時間，因此何必多說呢?