Level One
Lesson 9
be - past tense
When the verb “be” is in the past tense, it takes two different forms: was and were.
9a. be - past tense ✍️
Singular
I was ______.
You were ______.
He was ______.
She was ______.
It was ______.
Plural
We were ______.
You were ______.
They were ______
After the verb, you may use an adjective, a subject complement, or a prepositional phrase.
9a. Examples
- I was your teacher.
- You were my student.
- It was cold outside.
- I was outside.
- There was snow on the ground.
- He was a student.
- There were other students.
- They were all in a classroom.
- It was warm in the classroom.
- The teacher was somewhere in the classroom.
9b. be - past tense - negative ✍️
To form the negative for the verb “be” in the past tense, just add the word “not” after the verb: was + not / were + not
Singular
I was not ______.
You were not ______.
He was not ______.
She was not ______.
It was not ______.
Plural
We were not ______.
You were not ______.
They were not ______.
Contractions:
Singular
I wasn’t ______.
You weren’t ______.
He wasn’t ______.
She wasn’t ______.
It wasn’t _______.
Plural
We weren’t _______.
You weren’t ______.
They weren’t ______.
9b. Examples
- I wasn’t in the classroom.
- We weren’t in school.
- The temperature was not warm.
- It wasn’t dark outside.
- There weren’t a lot of people at the park.
- They weren’t in school.
- The school wasn’t open.
- The beach wasn’t very crowded.
- It wasn’t cold outside.
9c. be - past tense - questions ✍️
To form the question for the verb “be” in the past, put the verb before the subject.
Singular
Was I ______?
Were you ______?
Was he ______?
Was she ______?
Was it ______?
Plural
Were we ______?
Were you ______?
Were they ______?
Don’t forget to put the question mark at the end: ?
9c. Examples
- Was the market open yesterday?
- Was it busy?
- Who was there? (Notice that this question puts the subject before the verb.)
- Were they at work on Monday?
- Were they at a meeting?
- Was a cat under the table?
- Was the cat awake?
be – past tense (PDF)
Part A – Directions: Write the correct form of the verb “be” in the past tense: was or were.
You __________ at home this morning.
My wife __________ at work.
The lights __________ on this morning.
The cat __________ at the door.
Our books __________ on the shelf.
The information __________ available online.
The water __________ very hot.
The bread _________ on the table.
Several trucks __________ outside.
There __________ a problem with the car.
Part B – Directions: Write the correct form of the verb “be” negative in the past tense: wasn’t or weren’t.
You __________ at work this morning.
My wife __________ at home.
The car __________ in the garage.
The dog __________ outside.
Our shoes __________ in the closet.
The battery __________ good.
The water __________ very cold.
The milk _________ in the refrigerator.
Several cars __________ at the gas station.
There __________ a problem with the engine.
Part C – Directions: Use the verb “be” to form a question in the past tense.
__________ there enough coffee for everyone?
__________ you happy about the announcement?
__________ it wet outside?
How __________ the roads?
How __________ the meeting?
Who __________ at the party?
__________ there police at the accident?
__________ I there on that day?
__________ you there?
__________ the oven on?
In Lesson Ten, you will learn how to use demonstrative pronouns: this, that, these, and those.