Past simple of to be

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We learned about the present tense of the verb “to be” and the present tense verb conjugation. They allow us to talk about things in the present. However, we use the past simple tense to talk about things in the past. The most basic one is the past simple of to be.[1]https://www.grammar.cl/Past/To_Be.htm

past simple of to be

Affirmative

The positive form of the past simple of to be can be either: was or were.

For example:

  • I was sleepy at work today.
  • You were a very fast runner.
  • He was very talkative today.
  • She was nice to me.
  • It was a difficult test.
  • We were tired after the long drive.
  • They were a very good company.

Negative

The negative form of the past simple of to be can be either: was not or were not.

  • I was not sleepy at work today.
  • You were not a very fast runner.
  • He was not very talkative today.
  • She was not nice to me.
  • It was not a difficult test.
  • We were not tired after the long drive.
  • They were not a very good company.

Negative Contractions

The negative past simple form of to be can be contracted.

  • was not = wasn’t
  • were not = weren’t

Questions

The question form of the past simple of to be is:

Verb(was/were) + subject

For example:

  • Was I sleepy at work today?
  • Were you a very fast runner?
  • Was he very talkative today?
  • Was she nice to me?
  • Was it a difficult test?
  • Were we tired after the long drive?
  • Were they a very good company?

Short Answers

When you know the context, you can give short answers using the past simple tense.

For example:

Positive

  • Was I sleepy at work today? Yes, you were.
  • Were you a very fast runner? Yes, I was.
  • Was he very talkative today? Yes, he was.
  • Was she nice to me? Yes, she was.
  • Was it a difficult test? Yes, it was.
  • Were we tired after the long drive? Yes, we were.
  • Were they a very good company? Yes, they were.

Negative

  • Was I sleepy at work today? No, you were not (weren’t).
  • Were you a very fast runner? No, I was not (wasn’t).
  • Was he very talkative today? No, he was not (wasn’t).
  • Was she nice to me? No, she was not (wasn’t).
  • Was it a difficult test? No, it was not (wasn’t).
  • Were we tired after the long drive? No, we were not (weren’t).
  • Were they a very good company? No, they were not (weren’t).

Practice Exercises

1. Susie ____ a fast swimmer.

Question 1 of 10

2. There ____ a lot of people on the train.

Question 2 of 10

3. ____ they here yesterday?

Question 3 of 10

4. ____ she talkative when she ____ young?

Question 4 of 10

5. Were you here yesterday? Yes, I ____.

Question 5 of 10

6. She ____ in Canada

Question 6 of 10

7. I ____ in Paris this summer for vacation.

Question 7 of 10

8. He ____ at work all day.

Question 8 of 10

9. The teacher ____ not very good.

Question 9 of 10

10. We ____ in the car for 8 hours.

Question 10 of 10


 

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