be - past tense - questions
Level One
9b. 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: ?
9b. be - past tense - questions
- 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?
9b. Was there... / Were there...
To ask about the existence of something in the past, use “was” or “were” + “there.”
Singular
Was there an apple in the box?
Was there a change?
Was there a storm last night?
Plural
Were there any apples?
Were there any changes?
Were there any storms last night?
Note: It’s not necessary to use “any” before the plural noun, but it does sound natural.
Are you ready for an exercise?
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.