simple past tense

[FW]

1-I read a book yesterday.
Does this sentence imply that I read it from start to finish? Could I have read only half of the book?

2-We painted our house yesterday.
Does this imply that the painting is over?

 

[RonBee]

1-I read a book yesterday.
Does this sentence imply that I read it from start to finish?

Yes, the implication is that you finished the book.

Could I have read only half of the book?

Yes, but it is unlikely. More likely would be: "I read the book halfway through."

2-We painted our house yesterday.
Does this imply that the painting is over?

Yes, it does.

 

[Tdol]

It does generally imply that the action was completed, but it could be used otherwise in ceratin circustances. For example, if a parent was accusing their child of neglectin their studies and they said this, it wouldn't necessarily mean all of the book, but you'd need a clear context for this to be understood. ;-)