Be: Past Simple

1.- We form de the Past Simple of be like this:

Positive

Singular

I was
you were
he/she/it was

Plural

we/you/they were


Negative


Full form

Singular

I was not
you were not
he/she/it was not

Plural

we/you/ they were not

Short form

Singular

I wasn't
you weren't
he/she/it wasn't

Plural

we/you/they weren't.

Questions

Singular

Was I
Were you ---------------> right?
Was he/she /it

Plural

Were we/you/they -----> right?


Here are some examples with was and were:

I was in New York last week.
we were at home yesterday evening.
they weren't late this morning
Was it a good film?


2.- Look at these examples of how we use the Past Simple of be:


----> was/were + facts about the past:

John F. Kennedy was an American president.

Our first house was in the centre of town.

A: Were your answer correct?
B: No, they were all wrong!
Paula wasn't at the party.


----> was/were + place and time


+ Place + Time

We were in Spain in June.
She wasn't at home last night.

George and Joanna weren't in London at the weekend. They were in Brighton Steve and
Mary were here at six o' clock.


----> was/were + adjective (e.g. cold, tired):

It was cold yesterday
They were tired after the journey
The train was late again this morning


A: Were your exams easy?
B: The first exam was easy, but the second one wasn't.