VERB TO BE

PAST FORM
 VERB TO BE IN THE PAST FORM
We use the simple past tense of the verb to be for any
state to describe a person or situation in the past.

We’re gonna use the auxiliaries WAS and WERE

instead of AM, IS AND ARE.
HOW TO FORM THE PAST TENSE OF THE ENGLISH VERB “TO BE”
The main difference between the past tense and the present tense is if the action you are
describing occurred now or in the past.
Here are some examples of using the verb “to be” in both the past and present tense:

Verb “to be” in past simple Verb “to be” in simple present
Actions in the PAST. Actions in the present.

• I was happy • I am happy

• You were a bad person
• She was a student
• He was a lawyer
• It was a dog
• We were happy
• There were at home
• You are a bad person
• She is a student
• He is a lawyer
• It is a dog
• We are happy
• There are at home
More Examples.
Verb to be in Past Simple Verb to be in Present Simple

A year ago Now

I was a fireman. I am a fireman.
You were a student. You are a student.
He was a lawyer. He is a lawyer.
She was a teacher. She is a teacher.
It was a cat. It is a cat.
We were friends. We are friends.
You were students. You are students.
They were doctors. They are doctors.
 Affirmative form.

Subject Auxiliar in Past Meaning Meaning

I was Yo era - Yo estaba Yo fui
She (Sarah) was Ella era - Ella estaba Ella fue
He (John) was Él era - El estaba Él fue
It (thing or animal) was Eso era - Eso estaba Eso fue
You were Tú eras- Tu estabas Tú fuiste
We were Nosotros éramos - estábamos Nosotros fuimos
They were Ellos eran- Ellos estaban Ellos fueron
 Examples. Sentences in affirmative form.
• I was at my Gran's house yesterday.
• You were late for school.
• She was with her friends last Saturday.
• We were tired yesterday.
• The bus was so crowded.
• I was hungry.
• They were angry.
• The child was so cold.
• The cat was in the bed when the bell rang.
• You were in Thailand on holidays last year.
Exercises. WAS OR WERE. Choose the correct one.

• Last year Bob ______ 20.

• My children______in the kitchen when their mother arrived at home.
• Angela and I _____ best Friends in the past.
• She_____ at the supermarket last night.
Change the following sentences into past form.

• Those trousers are so expensive.

• R:__________________________.
• My best friend and I are teachers.
• R:__________________________.
• My uncleʼs dog is so loyal.
• R:__________________________.
• Iʼm tired today.
• R:__________________________.
Activity. True or False. Read and circle
True or False.
Yesterday was a great day. I was
on a trip with my family. We were
at the beach all day. My parents
were happy because they werenʼt
at work. My sister was in the sea
all morning. The water was cold
but I wasnʼt in it for long. It was
hot and my brother wasnʼt very
smart – he didnʼt use suncream
so he got burnt!
a. They were at the beach yesterday. True False
b. His dad was happy. True False
c. He went swimming for a long time. True False
d. It was a cold day. True False
Answer the questions and draw pictures.

• Where were you yesterday? I was ………...…………………

• How did you feel? I was …………………………...............…
• What was the weather like? It was ………………………..…
Exercise. Read the sentence. Circle the
correct answer.
a. He __________ sick yesterday. were / was

b. I ____________ in the school last year. were / was / is

c. I ____________late for school today . was / were

d. They ________happy with the football score. were/ was.

e. We _________ tired yesterday. was / were

Make it right! Find the mistake, underline it and write the correct word.

a. He were here yesterday. R: was

b. I were asleep at 11 oʼclock last night. R:
c. She were happy with her test result. R:
d. He where in the garden this afternoon. R:
e. I weren't in the football team last year. R:
f. They was scared of the dark. R: