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1. The Simple Past of the VERB TO BE

The verb TO BE.

1. Past Simple TO BE

"The past of the verb TO BE"

1. The verb TO BE is a special verb in English. It is the only one which has 2 forms in past (was/were) and its conjugation in past is different from the other verbs.

The past of the verb to be is going to help us to express ideas or actions in past,  
such as:  

  • How we were or something was. 
  • How old we were. 
  • To mention characteristics or to make descriptions about ourselves or about something in the past. 

2. Look at the information below and deduce what is the grammar structure of this verb in its three forms (affirmative, negative and question).

Richard Clouet - Susan Cranfield.. The verb TO BE in past (CC BY)

 

  • Here you will find more examples using the conjugation of the verb TO BE in its three forms.
Male Jacardona. Past Simple TO BE (Dominio público)
Male Jacardona. Past Simple TO BE (Dominio público)
Male Jacardona. Past Simple TO BE (Dominio público)

3. PRACTICE: Look at the picture, read and choose the correct option.

Male Jacardona. Past Simple TO BE (Dominio público)

ANSWERS

1.-

2.-

3.-

4.-

5.-

Male Jacardona. Past Simple TO BE (Dominio público)

ANSWERS

1.-

2.-

3.-

4.-

5.-

1.1 Grammar exercises.

1. Read the sentences and complete them with WAS or WERE.

Was and Were
Patientenglishclub. WAS and WERE (CC0)



ANSWERS

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

2. Read the sentences and complete them with WASN´T or WEREN´T.

Patientenglishclub. Was and Were (CC0)

ANSWERS

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

3.- Look at this picture about last Sunday and choose the correct word.

Profe Luisi. Wasn´t / Weren´t (CC0)

ANSWERS

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

4.-Complete with WAS or WERE.

Vhurtadon - Grammar and vocabulay (Dominio público)
Vhurtadon - Grammar and vocabulary (Dominio público)

ANSWERS

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

1.2 Reading Comprehension.

1.-Read the text and answer the questions.

Alvaro 35. When I was young. (Dominio público)

1.- How was school when he was youn?

A=

2.-Was he a good student?

A=

3.-How was he in the classroom?

A=

4.-How was Joy?

A=

5.-In which teams was he?

A=

6.-How old was he when he was in the regional running champion?

A

7.-Was he good at painting?

A=

2.-Read and complete the text with the Past Simple of the verb TO BE.

Eneida Alima. The Haunted House (Dominio público)

ANSWERS

1.                                                                    11.

2.                                                                    12.

3.                                                                    13.

4.                                                                    14.

5.                                                                    15.

6.                                                                    16.

7.                                                                    17.

8.                                                                    18.

9.                                                                    19.

10.                                                                   20.

3.-Read the text and based on it complete the sentences with WAS / WERE / WASN´T / WEREN´T.

Nat Teacher. Was-Were story (Dominio público)
  1. The weather ____________cold and rainy.
  2. Many students __________ in class.
  3.  A lot of students _________ sick at home.
  4. The teacher _____________ at home.
  5. The classrooms ___________ very cold.
  6. Our classroom ____________ freezing.
  7. There __________________ any heat. 
  8. That day _______________ really horrible.
  9.  The next days ___________ better.
  10. The heat _______________ OK the next day.

1.3 Listening Comprehension

1.- Click HERE and listen. Then, answer the questions.

Questions:

1.-Were there three friends?

A=

2.-Who were they?

A=

3.-Where they clever?

A=

4.-Where were they working?

A=

5.-Was Louis a teacher?

A=

6.-How were their salaries?

A=

7.-Were their working conditions good?

A=

8.-Was Ken happy with his job?

A?

9.-How did they feel about their jobs?

A=

10.-Were they happy?

A=

2.-Listen 2 short conversations and answer the following questions.

Elisabet C. Listening Comprehension
Click HERE and listen.

Extra information

Extra information

The Simple Past (Regular and Irregular verbs)

1. We have 2 kind of verbs in English: Regular and Irregular verbs.

REGULAR VERBS:

They are the verbs which we add  -ED ending to make their past or past participle.

IRREGULAR VERBS

They are the verbs which are different in their 3 forms or maybe they are the same.

e.g.       PRESENT             PAST           PARTICIPLE

               Play                    Played           Played

             Work                   Worked         Worked

e.g.       PRESENT             PAST           PARTICIPLE

               Eat                    Ate              Eaten

               Cut                    Cut              Cut

2. Now that you know what are regular and irregular verbs, check the next information to verify how you can make the Past Simple with regular and irregular verbs.

Richard Clouet - Susan Cranfield. The Simple Past (CC BY)

INTERROGATIVE FORM                                                

Richard Clouet - Susan Cranfield. The Past Simple interrogative (CC BY)




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