3、一般过去时与过去进行时
一般过去时表示过去发生的事情,往往表示动作已结束;而过去进行时侧重动作正在进行、未完成。试比较:
Mary wrote a letter to her friend last night. 玛丽昨晚给她的朋友写了封信。(信写完了)
Mary was writing a letter to her friend last night. 玛丽昨晚在给她的朋友写信。(信不一定写完)
I read a novel last night. 昨天晚上我看了一本小说。(指已经看完了)
I was reading a novel last night. 昨天晚上我在看小说。(指看了一些)
I often went swimming while I was living in Qingdao. 我住在青岛的时候经常去游泳。
I was running downstairs when I saw her. 我正往楼下跑的时候看见了她。
I ran downstairs and found her gone. 我跑下楼梯,发现她走了。