"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).

 

• Here you will find more examples using the conjugation of the verb TO BE in its three forms.

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

ANSWERS 1.- 2.- 3.- 4.- 5.-

ANSWERS 1.- 2.- 3.- 4.- 5.-

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

Was and Were

ANSWERS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

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

ANSWERS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

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

ANSWERS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.

4.-Complete with WAS or WERE.

ANSWERS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

1.-Read the text and answer the questions.

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.

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.

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.- 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.

Click HERE and listen.

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.

INTERROGATIVE FORM