To Be (Past)
The verb "to be" is a special verb in English that can show information about who, what, where, or how someone or something is. When we use "to be," we change its form depending on the subject, which is called conjugation. For example, in the past tense, we say "I was," "you were," etc. "To be" is an important verb to learn because it helps us describe people, things, and situations.
Below, you can see how this verb changes with different subjects in the Simple Past.
POSITIVE STATEMENTS
I was ...
You were ...
She was ...
He was ...
It was ...
We were ...
You were ...
They were ...
NEGATIVE STATEMENTS
I was not / wasn't ...
You were not / weren't ...
She was not / wasn't ...
He was not / wasn't ...
It was not / wasn't ...
We were not / weren't ...
You were not / weren't ...
They were not / weren't ...
POSITIVE QUESTIONS
Was I ...?
Were you ...?
Was she ...?
Was he ...?
Was it ...?
Were we ...?
Were you ...?
Were they ...?
NEGATIVE QUESTIONS
Was I not / Wasn't I ...?
Were you not / Weren't you ...?
Was she not / Wasn't she ...?
Was he not / Wasn't he ...?
Was it not / Wasn't it ...?
Were we not / Weren't we ...?
Were you not / Weren't you ...?
Were they not / Weren't they ...?
As you can see, 'was' and 'were' can act as both main verbs and auxiliary verbs. This means we use them to create negative sentences and questions.
+He was at home last night.
-He was not / wasn't at home last night.
+?Was he at home last night.
-?Wasn't he / Was he not at home last night.
Yes, he was. / No, he wasn't.
+They were worried.
-They were not / weren't worried.
+?Were they worried?
-?Weren't they / Were they not worried?
Yes, they were. / No, they weren't.
Exercises
Complete the mini-dialogues with the correct form of the verb "be". Use contractions if you can.
1.A: ____ you and your brother at the gym last night?B: Yes, we ____.
A: Were you and your brother at the gym last night?B: Yes, we were.
2.A: You went to the cinema last night. ____ the movie good?B: No, it ____. The actors ____ terrible.
A: You went to the cinema last night. Was the movie good?B: No, it wasn't. The actors were terrible.
3.A: Where ____ your dad's parents born?B: They ____ born in Japan in the 1930s.
A: Where wereyour dad's parents born?B: They were born in Japan in the 1930s.
4.A: ____ you at home at the weekend?B: No, I ____, but my wife ____. She had to take care of the kids.
A: Were you at home at the weekend?B: No, I wasn't, but my wife was. She had to take care of the kids.