Grammar: Past Simple with 'be'
A2 Lesson 18: Using 'was' & 'were'
Talking About the Past
We use the Past Simple to talk about things that are finished. The most common past tense verb is the verb 'to be', which has two forms in the past: was and were. The one you use depends on the subject of the sentence.
The Grammar Rule 📖
How to Use 'was' and 'were'
| Subject | Positive (+) | Negative (-) | Question (?) |
|---|---|---|---|
| I / He / She / It | I was tired. | He wasn't here. | Was it sunny? |
| You / We / They | We were happy. | You weren't late. | Were they busy? |
Note: wasn't = was not | weren't = were not
In Conversation
Let's see how 'was' and 'were' are used in a natural conversation about yesterday.
Dara: Hi Sophea! Were you at the market yesterday?
Sophea: No, I wasn't. I was at home all day. Was it busy?
Dara: Yes, it was. Many people were there. The mangoes weren't expensive, so I bought a lot!
Sophea: Oh, nice! Were the sellers friendly?
Dara: Yes, they were.
Practice Your Grammar 🎯
Exercise: Choose 'was' or 'were'
Complete the sentences with the correct past simple form of 'be'.
- I ___ very happy to see my friends yesterday.
→ was - The streets ___ very quiet this morning because of the holiday.
→ were - ___ she at work last Sunday?
→ Was - We ___ not tired after the trip. We had a lot of energy.
→ were - He ___ a teacher in 2020, but now he is a tour guide.
→ was
Your Grammar Mission ⭐
Your Weekend
Think about your last weekend. Write two sentences about where you were, and two sentences about where you weren't.
Key Vocabulary
- Past The time that has gone by; time before now.
- Present The period of time that is happening now.
- Yesterday On the day before today.