Past simple of to be: was and were
Use was or wasn't with I, he, she, and it; Use were or weren't with we, you, and they; Put a Wh-question word before was or were, and put was or were before the subject.
1. The film _____ very funny last night.
Multiple Choice20sAwas✓BwereCisDbe💡 Use was with the singular subject the film in the past.
2. The sentence 'You was late yesterday' is correct.
True / False20sTrueFalse ✓💡 The past form of be with you is were.
3. My cousins _____ at our house last weekend.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedwere💡 Use were with the plural subject my cousins.
4. I _____ hungry after breakfast, so I didn't eat a snack.
Multiple Choice20sAwasn't✓Bweren'tCisn'tDaren't💡 Use wasn't with I to make the past negative of be.
5. Match each subject and meaning to the correct past form of be.
Matching30sI - positive→was at the library.The keys - positive→were on the shelf.Our teacher - negative→wasn't in class.We - negative→weren't tired.💡 Singular I/he/she/it subjects use was; plural subjects and we use were.
6. _____ your brother at the match on Saturday?
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedWas💡 A yes/no question with a singular subject begins with Was.
7. Order the words to ask where the friends were.
Put in Order30s- 1.Where
- 2.were
- 3.your friends
- 4.after school?
💡 Use Wh-word + were + subject in a past question.
8. Were the shops open yesterday? - Yes, _____.
Multiple Choice20sAthey were✓Bthey wasCthey didDthey are💡 A positive short answer repeats were after they.
9. We use was or were with born, as in 'She was born in May.'
True / False20sTrue ✓False💡 Born is used with a past form of be.
10. The weather _____ cold yesterday; it was warm. (not be)
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedwasn't · was not💡 Weather is singular, so its past negative form is wasn't.
11. Which is the correct past question?
Multiple Choice20sAWas it expensive?✓BDid it was expensive?CWere it expensive?DIt was expensive?💡 Put was before the singular subject; do not use did with was.
12. Match each past-tense question to its answer.
Matching30sWhen were they at the beach?→Last summer.Where was Leo yesterday?→At the dentist's.Why were you late?→The bus was slow.Who was your teacher?→Mr Khan.💡 Each Wh-word asks for a different kind of information.
13.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedwere💡 Use were after Why with the plural subject the children.
14. 'Were she at work on Monday?' is a correct question.
True / False20sTrueFalse ✓💡 Use was, not were, with she.
15. Ava and I _____ in the same class five years ago.
Multiple Choice20sAwere✓BwasCareDis💡 Ava and I means we, so use were.
16. Put the words in order to make a past negative sentence.
Put in Order30s- 1.My parents
- 2.weren't
- 3.at home
- 4.last night.
💡 Use plural subject + weren't + place + past time.
17. I _____ at the dentist's at 3 p.m. yesterday.
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedwas💡 The past form of be with I is was.
18. _____ your first school? - It was near my home.
Multiple Choice20sAWhere was✓BWhere wereCWhen wasDWas where💡 Where asks about a place, and school is singular, so use Where was.
19. Was is the past form of be for every subject.
True / False20sTrueFalse ✓💡 The past form changes according to the subject.
20. The buses _____ full this morning, so we found seats easily. (not be)
Fill the Gap20sAcceptedweren't · were not💡 Use weren't with the plural subject buses.