To Be (Past)
فعل be به معنی «بودن / هستن» یکی از رایج‌ترین فعل‌ها در زبان انگلیسی است. نکته متفاوت در مورد این فعل این است که برخلاف اغلب فعل‌ها در زبان انگلیسی هم در زمان حال و هم در زمان گذشته برای فاعل‌های متفاوت صرف می‌شود.
در ادامه مشاهده می‌کنید که این فعل چگونه در زمان گذشته با فاعل‌های مختلف تغییر می‌کند.
POSITIVE STATEMENTSخبری مثبت
I was ...
You were ...
She was ...
He was ...
It was ...
We were ...
You were ...
They were ...
NEGATIVE STATEMENTSخبری منفی
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 QUESTIONSسوالی مثبت
Was I ...?
Were you ...?
Was she ...?
Was he ...?
Was it ...?
Were we ...?
Were you ...?
Were they ...?
NEGATIVE QUESTIONSسوالی منفی
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 ...?
همانطور که در ساختار‌های بالا می‌بینیم was و were خودشان هم نقش فعل اصلی و هم نقش فعل کمکی را برای منفی و سوالی کردن جملات بازی می‌کنند.
+He was at home last night.
دیشب خانه بود.
-He was not / wasn't at home last night.
دیشب خانه نبود.
+?Was he at home last night.
آیا او دیشب خانه بود؟
-?Wasn't he / Was he not at home last night.
آیا او دیشب خانه نبود؟
Yes, he was. / No, he wasn't.
بله، بود. / نه، نبود.
+They were worried.
آنها نگران بودند.
-They were not / weren't worried.
آنها نگران نبودند.
+?Were they worried?
آیا آنها نگران بودند؟
-?Weren't they / Were they not worried?
آیا نگران نبودند؟
Yes, they were. / No, they weren't.
بله، نگران بودند. / نه، نگران نبودند.
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 were your 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.