Verb to be (The Past Simple Tense)

WAS/WERE

Now Charlie is at work.

At midnight last night he wasn't at work.

He was in bed. He was asleep.

am /is (present) –> was (past):

- I am tired (now). I was tired last night.

- Is she at home (now)? Was she at home yesterday morning?

- The weather is nice today. The weather was nice yesterday.

are (present) –> were (past):

- You are late (now). You were late yesterday.

- They aren't here (now). They weren't here last Sunday.

positive		negative		question
I he she it	was		I he she it	was not (wasn’t)		was	I? he? she? it?
we you they	were		we you they	were not (weren’t)		were	we? you? they?

- Last year she was 22, so she is 23 now.

- When I was a child, I was afraid of dogs.

- We were tired after the journey but we weren't hungry.

- The hotel was very comfortable and it wasn't expensive.

- Where were you at 3 o'clock yesterday afternoon?

- Was the weather good when you were on holiday?

- Those shoes are nice. Were they expensive?

- Why was he angry yesterday?

short answers

Yes, (I/he/she/it) was. (we/you/they) were.

No, (I/he/she/it) wasn’t. (we/you/they) weren’t.

- 'Were you late? ' 'No, I wasn't.'

- 'Was Ted at work yesterday?' 'Yes, he was.'

- 'Were they at the party?' 'No, they weren't.'