in the past的意思是“在过去”，与过去时搭配。

In the past, there was only one school in this area.

在过去，这个地区只有一所学校。

in the past few years的意思是“在过去的几年中”，与现在完成时搭配。

They have made great progress in the past few years.

在过去的几年中，他们取得了很大的进步。

7. go to school, go to the school

go to school的意思是“去上学”，表示目的。

go to the school表示“到学校去”，强调地点。

We go to school by bike every day.

我们每天都骑车上学。

Xiao Ming’s mother went to the school and talked to his teachers. 小明的母亲到学校去和老师谈话。

8. every, each

虽然这两个词都是“每一个”的意思，但侧重点不同。其中every强调整体，用于三者或三者以上;each强调个体，可以用于两者或三者以上。

Every student has this book. 每个学生都有这本书。

Each student has his own way to go.

每个学生都有自己的路要走。

9. not a little, not a bit

not a little表示“非常”，相当于very的含义;

not a bit表示“一点也不”，相当于not at all的含义。如：

She was not a little angry at his words.

对于他说的话，她非常生气。

Although it was already December, I didn’t feel a bit cold. 尽管已经是十二月了，我一点也不觉得冷。