5.表示过去

(1)一般现在时有时可以表示过去发生的动作或存在的状态，即用一般现在时来传达过去发出的信息。

In fact，people who hear it often say it sounds just like a human voice．(人教大纲版高二上第4页)

实际上，人们听了电脑合成的声音后经常说，它很像真人在说话。

The ten o'clock news says that a snowstorm is on around the corner．

十点的新闻报道说即将有暴风雪。

As Yufang puts it:“We are not making that much money yet，but we are excited about all the new technology and great ideas that are coming to life in Zhongguancun．”(人教大纲版高二下第4页)

正如裕方所说:“我们现在还没有挣得那么多的钱，但是我们为所有这些在中关村富有活力的新技术和卓越的想法而感到激动不已。”

I forget where he lives．

我忘了他住的地方了。

They tell me that you are going abroad，is that true?

他们告诉我说你要出国，是真的吗?

提示：

能够这样用的单词不多，主要是say，tell，hear等，用的场合也是有限的。

(2)一般现在时表示死者的言行。

①一般现在时可以表示其理论、著作仍存在且有影响的死者的言行。

Shakespeare is the author of The Merchant of Venice．

莎士比亚是《威尼斯商人》的作者。

Darwin argues that natural selection through evolution is the main factor in the development of species．

达尔文认为进化中的自然选择是物种发展的主要因素。

②当死者的动作与现在有直接关联时，也用一般现在时。

He leaves his son a large sum of money．

他留给他儿子一大笔钱。

In that letter she tells what he experienced in the Cultural Revolution．

她在信中讲述了他在文革中所经历的一切。

(3)影视剧、小说的情节，舞台剧的舞台说明都是用一般现在时表示过去的动作和状态。

Captain Nemo takes Dr．Aronnax and his friends on a voyage across the oceans．His submarine，the Nautilus，is an extraordinary ship．The furniture is precious and huge glass windows that can be opened and closed give a view of the underwater world．The ship is also very strong and protected with thick iron plates．All that is needed for life on board comes from the ocean．The food aboard the Nautilus is all seafood．(人教大纲版高二下第12页)

尼莫舰长带着他们作越洋航行。诺第留斯是一艘非常特别的船，摆设很精致，巨大的玻璃窗可以打开或关上，让人们看到水下世界。这艘船也很结实，有很厚的铁板保护。船上的一切生活必需品都来自海洋。在诺第留斯号船上的食物全部都是海产品。

Shylock advances towards Antonio and prepares to use his knife．(人教大纲版高二下第71页)

夏洛克朝安东尼奥走去，准备割肉。

On the island，Chuck has to learn to survive all alone．He has to learn how to collect water，hunt for food，and make fire．Perhaps the most difficult challenge is how to survive without friends．In order to survive，Chuck develops a friendship with an unusual friend—a volleyball he calls Wilson．(人教大纲版高一上第4页)

在海岛上，查克不得不学会独自生存。他得学会收集淡水，寻找食物，生火什么的。也许最难熬的挑战就是生活中孤独无友。为了生存，查克与一名异类朋友建立了友谊，那是一只排球，他管他叫威尔逊。

(4)在间接引语中，主句的动词是过去时态，而间接引语是客观事实或者引语中的事实还没有成为过去的时候，用一般现在时。

When asked about the secret of his success，Steven Spielberg said that he owes much of his success and happiness to his wife and children．(人教大纲版高一上第32页)

当有人问起他成功的秘诀时，史蒂文·斯皮尔伯格说，他的成功和快乐主要来自妻子和孩子们。

He told the students that he hopes that more people would care about the milu deer and more centres would be built to protect this animal．(人教大纲版高一上第68页)

他告诉学生们他希望有更多的人关注麋鹿，建更多的保护中心来保护这种动物。

The radio station reported that the new freeway is under construction．

电台报道说，一条新的高速公路正在修建之中。

He said that the injured is in hospital．

他说伤员们正在住院治疗。

Many of the speakers at the Johannesburg summit said that education is the key to the future．(人教大纲版高二上第68页)约翰内斯堡峰会的许多演讲者说，教育是未来的关键。