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.
Positive
I was ... .
You were ... .
He was ... .
She was ... .
It was ... .
We were ... .
You were ... .
They were ... .
Negative
I was not ... . / I wasn't ... .
You were not ... . / You weren't ... .
He was not ... . / He wasn't ... .
She was not ... . / She wasn't ... .
It was not ... . / It wasn't ... .
We were not ... . / We weren't ... .
You were not ... . / You weren't ... .
They were not ... . / They weren't ... .
Positive Questions
Was I ... ?
Were you ... ?
Was he ... ?
Was she ... ?
Was it ... ?
Were we ... ?
Were you ... ?
Were they ... ?
Negative Questions
Was I not ...? / Wasn't I ... ?
Were you not ... ? / Weren't you ... ?
Was he not ... ? / Wasn't he ... ?
Was she not ... ? / Wasn't she ... ?
Was it not ... ? / Wasn't it ... ?
Were we not ... ? / Weren't we ... ?
Were you not ... ? / Weren't you ... ?
Were they not ... ? / Weren't they ... ?
Short Answers
Yes, I was. / No, I wasn't.
Yes, you were. / No, you weren't.
Yes, he was. / No, he wasn't.
Yes, she was. / No, she wasn't.
Yes, it was. / No, it wasn't.
Yes, we were. / No, we weren't.
Yes, you were. / No, you weren't.
Yes, they were. / No, they weren't.
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.
Examples:
+She was at home last night.
-She wasn't at home last night.
+?Was she at home last night?
-?Wasn't she at home last night? / Was she not at home last night?
Yes, she was. / No, she wasn't.
+They were friendly.
-They weren't friendly.
+?Were they friendly?
-?Weren't they friendly? / Were they not friendly?
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"____ you and your brother at the gym last night?""Yes, we ____."
"Were you and your brother at the gym last night?""Yes, we were."
2"You went to the cinema last night. ____ the movie good?""No, it ____. The actors ____ terrible."
"You went to the cinema last night. Was the movie good?""No, it wasn't. The actors were terrible."
3"Where ____ your dad's parents born?""They ____ born in Japan in the 1930s."
"Where were your dad's parents born?""They were born in Japan in the 1930s."
4"____ you at home at the weekend?""No, I ____, but my wife ____. She had to take care of the kids."
"Were you at home at the weekend?""No, I wasn't, but my wife was. She had to take care of the kids."