This document is a slide presentation about the past simple form of the verb "to be" in English. It covers the positive and negative structure of was/were, how to form questions and short answers, and examples of its use for talking about the past. The presentation was created by Fernando Benitez Leal for an English I class in July-December 2015.

1. Área Académica: Licenciatura en Turismo
Tema: Past Simple of Be
Materia: Inglés I
Docente: E. en D. Fernando Benitez Leal
Periodo: Julio-Diciembre 2015

2. Topic: Past Simple of Be
Abstract:
In this slides the student will learn the
correct structure and use of the Past
Simple of Be.
Keywords: To be, Past Simple Grammar,
Elementary, A1
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3. PAST SIMPLE OF BE
Was / Were
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4. STRUCTURE
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POSITIVE
I was
You were
He / She / It was
We / You / They were
NEGATIVE
FULL FORM SHORT FORM
I was not I wasn’t
You were not You weren’t
He / She / It was not He / She / It wasn’t
We / You / They were not We / You / They weren’t

5. STRUCTURE
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SHORT ANSWER
POSITIVE NEGATIVE
Yes,
I / He / She / It was.
No,
I / He / She / It wasn’t
We / You / They were. We / You / They weren’t
QUESTIONS
Was I / He / She / It… ?
Were We / You / They… ?

6. FORM
• Form the positive past simple of be:
Subject + was / were (full forms)
• Form the negative with:
Subject + was / were + not (full forms)
Subject + wasn’t / weren’t (short forms)
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7. FORM
• Form questions with:
Was / Were subject …?
• For short answers with:
Yes + subject pronoun + was / were.
No + subject pronoun + wasn’t / weren’t
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8. USE
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• Use the past simple of be to talk
about the past.
We were in the restaurant.
It wasn’t my birthday.
Were they really happy?
Yes, they were.

9. References
H.Q., M. (2009). Traveller Elementary.
USA: MM Publications.
Hobbs, M., & Keddle, J. (2010). For
Real Elementary. London: Helbling
Languages.
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10. Para citar este trabajo utiliza:
Benitez, F. (2015). Past Simple of Be.
[Diapositivas de Power Point].
Recuperado de:
http://es.slideshare.net/fhertown
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