Was and were
In this journey, you’ll discover how these words help us talk about things that happened in the past. By the end of this chapter, you’ll be a master of using “was” and “were” to tell tales of the past.
1. Introducing “Was” and “Were”
Think of “was” and “were” as time-travelling words. They help us talk about things that were true in the past. “Was” is for one person or thing, while “were” is for more than one person or thing.
2. Positive Sentences
When you want to talk about something that happened in the past, use “was” or “were” depending on the subject.
Examples:
I was at the park yesterday.
They were happy at the party.
3. Negative Sentences
For negatives, add “not” after “was” or “were.”
Examples:
She was not tired after the game. (or She wasn’t tired after the game.)
We were not late for school. (or We weren’t late for school.)
4. Questions
To ask about the past, start with “was” or “were” depending on the subject.
Examples:
Was he at the concert last night?
Were you at the beach on Saturday?
5. Practice Time
Practice using “was” and “were” in sentences. Pretend you’re a time traveller sharing stories about the past.
