一般过去时表示过去某个时间里发生的动作或状态；过去习惯性、经常性的动作、行为。在英语语法中，“时“指动作发生的时间，”态“指动作的样子和状态。
yesterday (morning,afternoon,evening)
the day before yesterday
last night (week,Sunday,weekend,month,winter,year,century 世纪）
ago
this morning/afternoon/evening
when引导的状语从句（动词过去时）
just now
the other day -- a few days ago.
at the age of 10 （过去年龄段）
in the old days
at that time
in+整十数年份+s（世纪/年代）
构成：主语 + 动词的一般过去式 + 其他
1、在表示某个时间里存在的状态的句子，系动词用过式was，were构成。如：
eg:I was at home yesterday. 昨天我在家。
2、在表示过去某个时间里发生的动作，用动词的过去式构成。如：
I visited my uncle yesterday. 昨天我拜访了我的叔叔。
3、一般过去时的.肯定陈述句：主语 ＋ 动词过去式 ＋ 宾语或表语。
He worked in Shanghai ten years ago.
4、一般过去时的否定句：
a．主语 ＋ didn’t ＋ 动词原形 ＋ 宾语。 (did + not = didn't)
He didn't do morning exercises yesterday.
b．主语 ＋ wasn’t/weren’t ＋表语。
(was + not = wasn't , were + not = weren't)
He wasn't an English teacher ten years ago.
5、一般过去时的一般疑问句：
a．Did ＋ 主语 ＋ 动词原形 ＋ 宾语 ？
Did you study English in 1990 ?
b．Was/Were + 主语 ＋ 表语 ？
Was he a pupil five years ago ?
6、一般过去时的特殊疑问句：
a．特殊疑问词 ＋ did + 主语 ＋ 动词原形 ＋ 宾语？
Where did your parents live five years ago？
What did you do last Sunday？
b．特殊疑问词 ＋ were/was ＋ 表语？
Who was at the zoo yesterday?