GRAMMARUNIT 1

We use the past simple of to be verb to talk about past situation.

AFFIRMATIVE SENTENCES

The verb Be, has two past-tense forms:

First and third singular person use was.

Everything else use were. The word order in English

sentence is: S + was/were + C.

AFFIRMATIVE SENTENCES

TO BE VERBIHeShe it

was

WeYouThey

were

EXAMPLES I was tired last night. You were late yesterday She was sad . They were in class. We were at hotel last

month.

NEGATIVE SENTENCES

The verb Be, has two past-tense forms:

First and third singular person use: was not or wasn’t Everything else use: were not or

weren’t. The word order in English sentence

is: S + wasn’t /weren’t + C.

NEGATIVE SENTENCES:TO BE VERB

IHe

She it

Was not(wasn’t)

WeYouThe

y

Were not(Wereren’t)

EXAMPLES

They weren’t here. He wasn’t in bed We weren’t on time. She wasn’t at home. I weren’t late

yesterday.

INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES

The verb Be, has two past-tense forms: First and third singular person

use: was. Everything else use: were. The word order in English

sentence is: Was /were + S + C + ?

INTERROGATIVESENTENCES:TO BE VERB

Was

I ?He ?she ?It ?

Were

we ?you ?they ?

EXAMPLES

Was the weather good? Was your exam difficult? Were the clothes

expensive? Were you late this

morning? Was he at the party?

SHORT ANSWERS

The verb Be, has two past-tense forms:

First and third singular person use: was.

Everything else use: were. The word order in English

sentence is: Yes, + S + Was /were.

SHORT AFFIRMATIVE

ANSWERS TO BE VERB

Yes,I/he/she/it

wasWe/you/

they were

The verb Be, has two past-tense forms:

First and third singular person use: was.

Everything else use: were. The word order in English

sentence is: No, + S + Wasn’t /weren’t

SHORT NEGATIVE ANSWERS TO BE

VERB

No,I/he/she/it

wasn’tWe/you/

they weren’t

EXAMPLES

Were you late? No, I wasn’t. Were they at the school? No,

they weren’t Was he at work yesterday? Yes, he was. Were they busy ? Yes, they

were.