The document discusses the simple past tense form of the verb "to be" in English. It provides examples of using "was/were" in affirmative and negative statements, as well as questions and yes/no answers. Additional examples are given using the simple past tense followed by the present tense to indicate a change from a prior state or job to a current one.

1. was/were

2. Tobe in English
Simple Present Simple Past
 am/is/are
 Examples:
1. I am a cashier.
2. He is a bus driver.
 was/were
 Examples:
1. I was a student.
(Now I’m not a student
anymore.)
2. We were waiters.
(Now we’re not waiters
anymore.)

3. Affirmative statements
Subject Pronoun Verb (tobe)
I was a student.
He was a student.
She was a student.
It was a student.
You were a student.
We were students.
They were students.

4. Negative statements
Subject Pronoun Verb (tobe) NOT
I was not a student.
He was not a student.
She was not a student.
It was not a student.
You were not a student.
We were not students.
They were not students.
was not = wasn’t
were not = weren’t

5. Questions & Yes/No answers
Verb (tobe) Subject Pronoun
Was I a student?
Was he a student?
Was she a student?
Was it a student?
Were you a student?
Were we students?
Were they students?
Yes No
Yes, you were. No, you weren’t.
Yes, he was. No, he wasn’t.
Yes, she was. No, she wasn’t.
Yes, it was. No, it wasn’t.
Yes, I was. No, I wasn’t.
Yes, we were. No, we weren’t.
Yes, they were. No, they weren’t.

6. Before: construction worker Now: electrician
He was a construction worker before. Now he is an electrician.

7. Before: police officers Now: firefighters
They were police officers before. They are firefighters now.

8. Before: student Now: dentist
She was a student before She is a dentist now.

9. Before: farmer Now: chef
He was a farmer before. Now he is a chef.