3.表示现在与将来

(1)一般过去时可以用来表示现在时态，这种用法主要见诸于日常会话。这类句型的动词常常是wish，hope，wonder，think等。这种句型最大的特点是把时态推向“过去”，比用一般现在时在语气上显得更加客气。

Did you want me to come?

你要我来吗?

I hoped you would do me favour．

我希望你能帮我。

Did you know that he will come?

你知道不知道他要来呢?

I wondered if you could help me．

我不知道您能不能帮我。

I thought I might come and see you later this evening．

我想我有可能今天晚上晚些时候来看你。

(2)一般过去时有时在形式上是过去，实际上指的是现在。

They told me that global warming was real a problem．

他们告诉我们说全球变暖是一个棘手的问题。

Oh，sorry，I didn't see you．

对不起，我没看到你。

Mathilde!I didn't know．I'm sorry．May I know what happened?(人教大纲版高一下第17页)

玛蒂尔德!我不知道，对不起。能告诉我发生了什么事情吗?

Mathilde!Oh yes．Sorry，I didn't recognise you．Where have you been all these years，Mathilde?(人教大纲版高一下第17页)

玛蒂尔德!是啊，对不起，我没有认出你，这些年你都到哪里去了?

I didn't know you were in London．

我不知道你在伦敦。

提示：

Oh，sorry，I didn't see you含有“我这会看到你了”的意思。I didn't know you were in London含有“我现在才知道你在伦敦”的意思。又:

I didn't realize my mistakes．我当时没有意识到我的错误。

Oh，I forgot．噢，我忘了。(现在我记起来了)

(3)一般过去时还可以表示想象性的动作，用于It is time．．(该……了)，I'd rather．．(我宁愿……)，I wish．．(要是……就好了)和I thought．．(我还以为……)等之后的that从句中。

I wish I were as healthy as you are．

但愿我有你那么健康。

It is time that you had a holiday．

你早该休假了。

I'd rather you knew him．

你要是认识他就好了。

I thought you were out．

我还以为你出去了呢。

(4)用于非真实条件句中。(见状语从句和虚拟语气)

If it did not，the oceans would be frozen solid．(人教大纲版高二下第29页)

如果不这样(密度不减小)，整个海洋就会冻结成固体。

If you offered me six times what you have just offered，I would still takemy pound of flesh．(人教大纲版高二下第67页)

即使你愿意给我六倍于刚才你提出的那个钱数，我还是要拿回我应得的那一磅肉。

He looks as if he were dead．

他看上去就像死了一般。