1 许多动词通过在原型之后添加-ed 构成一般过去式。 其他动词有不规则的过去式，使用一般过去式的时间词语出现在句首或者句尾
The company grew from 400 to 5,000 people in the 1950s.
Sixty years ago, the company employed about 100 people.
2 对于过去式的否定式，使用did not 或者didn't + 动词原型
Labor costs increased in 1996.
They didn't increase in 1997.
3 使用to be 的过去时态的一般疑问句如何提问与回答
Were you in the meeting this morning?
Yes, I was.
No, I wasn't.
4 使用其他动词的过去时态的一般疑问句如何提问与回答
Did Belle Vie have a successful first quarter?
Yes, it had a successful first quarter.
Yes, it did.
No, it didn't have a successful first quarter.
No, it didn't.
5 通常过去时的特殊疑问句要求使用did, 但是当疑问句是问句的主语时，did不能使用
Where did you meet Rupert?
Who called this morning?