英语一共有16种时态，中学阶段比较常用的有10种，但高考英语对时态的考查主要涉及四种，它们是一般过去时、过去进行时、现在完成时、过去完成时。去年全国18套高考英语试卷共涉及时态考点21道题，但其中有19题考的是上面提到的四种时态，约占整个时态考点的90%。由此可见这四种时态不仅重要，而且很“热”。

一、一般过去时考点的命题特点

1. 利用插入成分考查一般过去时的用法
As the years passed, many occasions—birthdays, awards, graduations — ______ with Dad’s flowers. (湖南卷)
A. are marked B. were marked               C. have marked        D. had marked
【解析】B。由于句中增加了插入成分birthdays, awards, graduations，使得句子的主语与谓语were marked分离，从而增加了考生对句子理解的难度。根据句意，空格处应填被动语态；再根据句中的passed的时态特点可知，空格处也应用一般过去时，故选B。

2. 利用标志性时间状语考查一般过去时的用法
I know a little bit about Italy as my wife and I ______ there several years ago. (全国I)
A. are going     B. had been      C. went                     D. have been
【解析】C。根据句末的过去时间状语several years ago可知，此处应用一般过去时。

3. 利用语境背景考查一般过去时的用法
(1)When I called you this morning, nobody answered the phone. Where ______? (重庆卷)
A. did you go    B. have you gone         C. were you          D. had you been
【解析】C。句子的前半部分说上午打电话时没有人接电话，而后半部分问对方当时在什么地方，显然，句子前后两部分的时间应一致，即用一般过去时。
(2)—Ouch! You hurt me!
—I am sorry. But I ______ any harm. I ______ to drive a rat out. (江西卷)
A. didn’t mean; tried        B. don’t mean; am trying
C. haven’t meant; tried                            D. didn’t mean; was trying
【解析】D。第一空填一般过去时，指对前面发生的情况作出解释；第二空填过去进行时，指过去正进行的动作。答语的意思是：对不起。但我不是有意要弄伤你，我是在把一只老鼠赶出去。

4. 利用主句过去时谓语考查从句过去时的用法
(1)The flowers were so lovely that they ______ in no time. (全国I)
A. sold      B. had been sold          C. were sold         D. would sell
【解析】C。根据前面的过去式谓语were可知，后面也要用一般过去时；再根据“花”与“卖”的关系可知，此处要用被动语态，故选C。
(2)The play had already been on for quite some time when we ______ at the New Theatre. (浙江卷)
A. have arrived         B. arrived          C. had arrived  D. arrive
【解析】B。由于句中的had already been用的是过去完成时，而根据句意，arrive显然应发生在其后，故要用一般过去时。全句意为：当我们到达新剧院时，戏已经演了好一会儿了。

二、过去进行时的命题特点

综观所有的过去进行时考题，它们无一例外地有个共同特点，就是考查在特定语境背景下某一动作正在进行的情形。请看实例：
(1)—It was really very kind of you to give me a lift home.
—Oh, don’t mention it. I ______ past your house anyway. (北京卷)
A. was coming B. will come     C. had come     D. have come
【解析】A。根据前面一句中的was可知，搭车的事发生在过去，所以“我开车要经过你的家门口”也发生在过去，因此可排除B和D。而在剩下的A和C中，不能选C，是因为C为过去完成时，表示“过去的过去”，与句意不符。
(2)—I saw Jane and her boyfriend in the park at eight yesterday evening.
—Impossible. She ______ TV with me in my home then. (福建卷)
A. watched       B. had watched        C. would watch                  D. was watching
【解析】D。表示过去正在进行的动作，用过去进行时。第二句的意思是：不可能。她当时与我一起在我家看电视。
(3)—Is there anything wrong, Bob? You look sad.
—Oh, nothing much. In fact, I ______ of my friends back home. (全国II)
A. have just thought         B. was just thinking
C. would just think   D. will just be thinking
【解析】B。指刚刚在想念老家的朋友，故用过去进行时。
(4)—Did you see a man in black pass by just now?
—No, sir. I ______ a newspaper. (四川卷)
A. read     B. was reading         C. would read  D. am reading
【解析】B。由于我刚才“正在看报”(was reading a newspaper)，所以没有看到有人经过。根据语境，显然只有B最佳。