Hook

How do you say “I am” or “they are” when you’re talking about yesterday? The verb “to be” changes for the past.

Notice

Look at these sentences:

  • I was at home yesterday.
  • She was tired last night.
  • We were at the park on Sunday.
  • They weren’t happy about the news.
  • Were you at school yesterday? — Yes, I was.

Rule

Was = past of am/is (I, he, she, it). Were = past of are (you, we, they).

  • I/He/She/It was
  • You/We/They were

Negative: wasn’t (was not), weren’t (were not).

Question: Was/Were + subject…? — Was he late? Were they ready?

Practice

  1. Complete: I ___ at work yesterday. (Answer: was)
  2. Complete: They ___ at the beach last weekend. (Answer: were)
  3. Make negative: She was happy. (Answer: She wasn’t happy.)
  4. Make a question: you / at home / yesterday (Answer: Were you at home yesterday?)
  5. Complete: ___ he ready? (Answer: Was)
  6. Answer: Was it cold yesterday? (Yes) (Answer: Yes, it was.)

Connect

Review past-tense “be” forms with our Vocabulary lessons.

Try the Vocabulary Lessons →

CEFR A1: Spoken Production — can use simple past forms of “to be” to talk about past states.

Azizul Hakim
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