Past Simple of 'To Be' (was / were)

Level: A1. To talk about the past with the verb to be, you only need two words: was and were. They describe how things, people and places were at an earlier time — and they behave differently from every other verb in the past.

The rule

The verb to be is the verb you use to describe states and identities: I am tired, she is a nurse, they are here. In the past simple — for a finished time in the past — those present forms (am, is, are) change to just two past forms:

• was goes with I, he, she, it (and any single person or thing): I was, he was, the film was.
• were goes with you, we, they (and any plural): you were, we were, the children were.

The negative adds not, almost always as a contraction: wasn’t (was not) and weren’t (were not). To make a question, you simply move was or were in front of the subject — “Was she at home?”, “Were they late?” — with no helping word.

This is the key point: unlike ordinary verbs, to be does not use did for questions or negatives. You say “Were you happy?”, never “Did you were happy?”; and “She wasn’t ready”, never “She didn’t was ready”.

Was and were forms

Short answers use just the verb: “Yes, I was.” / “No, I wasn’t.” — “Yes, they were.” / “No, they weren’t.”

How to say it

• Was is usually weak and short in a sentence — “wuz” — unless you stress it to disagree: “I was there!”
• Were is also weak — it sounds like “wuh” before a consonant — but weren’t is stressed and clear, with the t audible.
• Don’t confuse were (past of be) with we’re (we are): they sound different — were rhymes with her, we’re rhymes with here.

Example sentences

1. I was tired yesterday.
   was with 'I'.
2. She was at school.
   was with 'she'.
3. The film was great.
   was with a single thing (it).
4. You were right.
   were with 'you'.
5. We were very happy.
   were with 'we'.
6. They were at the party.
   were with 'they'.
7. It was cold last night.
   was with 'it'.
8. My parents were teachers.
   Plural subject takes were.
9. I wasn't hungry.
   Negative: wasn't = was not.
10. He wasn't at home.
    Negative with 'he'.
11. We weren't ready.
    Negative: weren't = were not.
12. They weren't late.
    Negative with 'they'.
13. Was she happy?
    Question: was before the subject.
14. Were you at work yesterday?
    Question with 'you'.
15. Was it expensive?
    Question about a thing.
16. Were they friends?
    Question with 'they'.
17. Yes, I was.
    Short answer, positive.
18. No, we weren't.
    Short answer, negative.
19. The weather was nice last weekend.
    Describing a past state.
20. Where were you last night?
    Question word + were + subject.

Common mistakes

• ❌ You was late. → ✅ You were late. You always takes were, even for one person.
• ❌ We was tired. → ✅ We were tired. Plural subjects take were.
• ❌ They was happy. → ✅ They were happy. They is plural → were.
• ❌ Did you were there? → ✅ Were you there? To be makes questions by moving itself; no did.
• ❌ She didn’t was ready. → ✅ She wasn’t ready. Negative is wasn’t / weren’t, never didn’t was.
• ❌ Was they at home? → ✅ Were they at home? They needs were, not was.

A short conversation

A: Where were you yesterday? You weren’t at the meeting. B: I was at the doctor’s. Was it important? A: It was, a little. But don’t worry — it was short. B: Good. Were the others there? A: Yes, they were all there.

Usage notes

• There was / there were. To say something existed, use there was (singular) or there were (plural): “There was a cat in the garden”, “There were lots of people.” See the note below.
• Age and feelings. To be describes states: “I was six years old”, “She was afraid”, “We were hungry.” These use was/were, not an action verb.
• Short answers keep the verb. Answer a was/were question with the same verb: “Were you tired?” — “Yes, I was.” Don’t answer with did.
• Polite note. In standard written English, were is also used after if and wish for unreal situations (“If I were you…”), but that is a later topic.

Compared with…

• Past simple of regular verbs works differently: ordinary verbs add -ed (work → worked) and need did for questions and negatives (“Did you work?”, “I didn’t work”). The verb to be breaks that pattern — it changes to was/were and needs no did. Compare “Were you happy?” (be) with “Did you play?” (regular verb). See Past Simple: Regular Verbs and -ed Spelling.

Quick recap before you practise.

Practice

Practice

Was and were practice

Try each one, then press Check. No sign-up, nothing is sent anywhere — it all runs in your browser.

1 Choose the correct form: 'They ___ at home.'

was were wasn't were did were

Check

Show answer

were — They is plural, so it takes were.

2 Complete with was or were: 'I ____ very tired last night.'

Check

Hint: I + ?

Show answer

was — I takes was.

3 Put the words in order to make a question.

youWereatschool?

CheckReset

Show answer

Were you at school? — Question: were + subject (you) + the rest.

4 Match each subject to its correct past form.

• I Match for I — choose — waswere
• you Match for you — choose — waswere
• she Match for she — choose — waswere
• they Match for they — choose — waswere

Check

Show answer

• I → was
• you → were
• she → was
• they → were

was goes with I/he/she/it; were goes with you/we/they.

5 Which sentence is WRONG?

We were happy. She was late. You was right. It was cold.

Check

Show answer

You was right. — You always takes were: You were right.

6 Make it negative: 'He was at home.' -> 'He ____ at home.'

Check

Hint: was + not

Show answer

wasn't — The negative of was is wasn't (was not).

Quiz

Check yourself

Was and were quiz

12 questions · pick an answer and you'll see straight away if it's right.

0/12 0 answered

1. 1Complete: 'She ___ at the party.'

   A were B was C did D are
   Show answer

   was — She is third person singular, so it takes was.

2. 2Complete: 'We ___ very happy.'

   A was B were C is D did
   Show answer

   were — We is plural, so it takes were.

3. 3Complete: 'You ___ right.'

   A was B were C did D are
   Show answer

   were — You always takes were, even for one person.

4. 4Make a question: 'They were late.'

   A Did they late? B Was they late? C Were they late? D They were late?
   Show answer

   Were they late? — Move were in front of the subject: Were they late?

5. 5Choose the correct negative.

   A She didn't was ready. B She wasn't ready. C She no was ready. D She weren't ready.
   Show answer

   She wasn't ready. — The negative of was is wasn't; she takes was, not were.

6. 6Which sentence is WRONG?

   A They were friends. B I was tired. C We was late. D It was cold.
   Show answer

   We was late. — We is plural and takes were: We were late.

7. 7Complete: '___ you at work yesterday?'

   A Was B Did C Were D Are
   Show answer

   Were — You takes were, so the question is Were you...?

8. 8Answer: 'Were you tired?'

   A Yes, I did. B Yes, I was. C Yes, I were. D Yes, I am.
   Show answer

   Yes, I was. — Answer a was/were question with the same verb: Yes, I was.

9. 9Complete: 'The children ___ in the garden.'

   A was B were C did D is
   Show answer

   were — The children is plural, so it takes were.

10. 10Why is 'Did you were there?' wrong?

    A 'there' is wrong B to be needs no 'did' C it needs 'was' D 'you' is wrong
    Show answer

    to be needs no 'did' — To be makes questions by moving itself; it never uses did: Were you there?

11. 11Complete with the negative: 'They ____ at home.' (were + not)
    Check
    Show answer

    weren't — The negative of were is weren't (were not).

12. 12Complete: 'It ___ a great film.'

    A were B was C did D are
    Show answer

    was — It is singular, so it takes was.

Recap cheat-sheet

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