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English grammar

was and were

A2 · Elementary Verbs and time Questions 10

The rule

The past of be has two forms and no others: was for I, he, she and it; were for you, we and they. The negative is was not / were not, and the question turns them round: Were you at home?

Pattern

I / he / she / it was · you / we / they were · Was I …? Were you …?

Examples

  1. I was at the doctor this morning.

  2. They were very friendly.

  3. It was not expensive.

  4. Were you at work yesterday?

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: They was late.

    Right: They were late.

    they takes were, never was.

  • Wrong: You was very kind.

    Right: You were very kind.

    you always takes were, one person or many.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

  1. 1Fill in the gap.

    I _____ at home all evening.

    1. was
    2. is
    3. are
    4. were
    Show answer

    Answer: A I was at home all evening.

    I takes was.

  2. 2Fill in the gap.

    The shops _____ closed on Sunday.

    1. is
    2. be
    3. was
    4. were
    Show answer

    Answer: D The shops were closed on Sunday.

    A plural subject takes were.

  3. 3Fill in the gap.

    _____ she at the meeting?

    1. Is
    2. Were
    3. Did
    4. Was
    Show answer

    Answer: D Was she at the meeting?

    she takes was, and it comes first in a question.

  4. 4Fill in the gap.

    We _____ not very happy with the room.

    1. were
    2. was
    3. are
    4. do
    Show answer

    Answer: A We were not very happy with the room.

    we takes were.

  5. 5Fill in the gap.

    It _____ colder than yesterday.

    1. had
    2. were
    3. was
    4. did
    Show answer

    Answer: C It was colder than yesterday.

    it takes was.

  6. 6Choose the correct sentence.

    1. My parents was born in Egypt.
    2. My parents were born in Egypt.
    3. My parents be born in Egypt.
    4. My parents is born in Egypt.
    Show answer

    Answer: B My parents were born in Egypt.

    A plural subject takes were.

  7. 7Choose the correct sentence.

    1. Were they at the station?
    2. Was they at the station?
    3. Did they were at the station?
    4. They were at the station?
    Show answer

    Answer: A Were they at the station?

    The question puts were before the subject.

  8. 8This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    Which sentence is wrong?

    1. I was tired after work.
    2. I were tired after work.
    3. She was tired after work.
    4. We were tired after work.
    Show answer

    Answer: B I were tired after work.

    I takes was.

  9. 9This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    Which sentence is wrong?

    1. The food was cold.
    2. The food were cold.
    3. It was cold.
    4. The plates were cold.
    Show answer

    Answer: B The food were cold.

    food is one thing, so was.

  10. 10Put the words in the right order.

    The weather was terrible last week

    Show answer

    Answer: The weather was terrible last week.

    Subject, then was, then the rest.

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