英语里一般过去时的定义和用法是什么?

英语里一般过去时的定义和用法是什么?
还有它们的区别是什么?

一般过去时态用法：定义：表示过去某一时间所发生的动作或存在的状态.动词过去式的构成： 　　a.规则动词过去式的变化可速记为"直"、"去"、"双"、"改"四字诀.　　①一般情况下在动词原形后直接加-ed.如：entered, finished, wanted,played.　　②以不发音的字母e结尾的动词,去掉e再加-ed.如：liked, joked, hoped,lived.　　③重读闭音节单词需双写最后一个辅音字母再加-ed.如：stopped, planned, stopped,nodded.　　④以辅音字母+y结尾的动词变y为i,再加-ed.如：carried, studied,tried, worried.　　规则动词过去式的读音也有规律可循.请记住：清后[t],元浊[d],[t] [d]之后读[id].　　①清辅音[p] [k] [f] [s] [F] [tF]等后,ed要读[t].如：worked,finished,helped, fetched　　②元音或浊辅音[b] [g] [v] [z] [m]等后,ed要读[d].如：stayed,called,believed,referred　　③[t]或[d]后,ed读[id].如：started,wanted, permitted, needed. b.不规则动词.大多数动词的过去式都是由动词原形加-ed构成,这类动词叫做规则动词.但有一些动词却不是以加-ed的方式构成,这类动词叫做不规则动词.例如: am (是) --was, is（是）--was, are（是）--were, begin（开始）--began, bring（拿来）--brought, can（能）--could, catch（捉住）--caught, come（来）--came, cut（砍,割）--cut, dig（挖,掘）--dug, do（做,干）--did, draw（画画,拉）--drew—等 详细请参阅： http://zhidao.baidu.com/question/18681706.html?si=3用法： 1）经常与yesterday（昨天）, last week（上周）, last month（上个月）, last year（去年）, two months ago（两个月前）, the day before yesterday（前天）,in 2000 (在2000年), in those days （在那些日子里）等表示过去的时间状语连用.如： I was born in 1990. 我出生在1990年.I went to the park last week. 我是上周去的公园.I stayed there for two months.我在那里呆了两个月了.When did you go to the park? 你是什么时候去的公园.A:We could have walked to the station; it was so near.我们本来可以步行去车站.车站离这很近.B:Yes. A taxi wasn’t at all necessary.是的.根本没必要打的.The captain made an apology to the passengers for the delay caused by bad weather.船长就由于恶劣天气造成的耽搁向旅客们道歉.A: Your phone number again? I didn’t quite catch it.B: It’s 9568442.2）表示过去一段时间内经常或反复发生的行为,常与every day,often,sometimes等时间状语连用；“used to+动词原形”或“would+动词原形”常用来表示过去经常或反复发生的行为．In those days she went to see his father in the hospital every day.那些日子,她每天去医院看望她父亲.When I was a child, I often played football in the street. 我是个孩子的时候,常在马路上踢足球.When I was at college I spoke three foreign laguages, but I have forgotten all except a few words of each.Whenever the Browns went during their visit, they were given a warm welcome.那时,布朗一家无论什么时候去,都受到热烈欢迎.The old man would sit on a bench in the quiet park and look at others for hours without doing anything or talking to anybody.（老人过去常常坐在宁静的公园里的一条长椅上,看着其他的人,一坐就是数个小时,什么也不干,也不和任何人交谈.）He used to visit his mother once a week.（他以前总是每周看望一次他的母亲.） 3）在时间、条件、方式让步状语从句中用一般过去时表示过去将来的动作．He said he would let me know if he got any news.He promised that he would buy some copies for us whem he went there.He said he would write to us as soon as she arrived at Beijing. 4)在虚拟语气结构中；I do wish that I could help you. 我真希望我能帮助你.（事实是：我不能帮助你.事与愿违）If only she were my sister. 她要是我的妹妹多好啊.I would rather we didn’t go to see a film this evening.If I were you,I should do it．如果我是你的话,我就要做这件事.If I were to go to the moon one day, I could see it with my own eyes.If places were alike, there would be little need for geographers. 如果各个地方都一样,就不需要地理学家了.It's already 5 o'clock now. Don't you think it's about time we went home ? 现在已经5点钟了,难道你不认为该回家了吗?He acts as if he were / was a TV expert. 他做起事来好象是个电视专家. 5） 有时可代替一般现在时,表达一种婉转、客气、礼貌、商量、试探性的语气.例如：　　 ①动词want, hope, wonder, think, intend 等.We were hoping you would stay with us.我们盼望您能和我们带在一起.I thought you might like some flowers.我想您也许想要些花.Did you want anything else? 您还要些什么吗?Did you wish to see me now?您想现在见我吗?I wondered if you could help me. 能不能帮我一下.We were wondering whether we might beg a lift in your car?我们不知是否能请求您让我们打车?②在表示请求时,用情态动词 could, would.例如：Could you open the door?能把门打开吗?（请把门打开,好吗?）Could you lend me your bike? 你的自行车,能借用一些吗?Could you check these figures?您能核对一下这些数字吗?Would you help us, please?请帮助我们,好吗?　Would you mind my sitting here?您介意我坐在这里吗?Would you please look over my essay?请您审阅一下我的文章,好吗? 6）有时候格言中也使用过去时态,多因为他们来源于名著.如：Care killed a cat. 忧虑伤身.Curiosity killed the cat. 好奇心,惹祸根.