The document introduces the simple past tense of the verb "to be" in English. It provides examples of using "was" and "were" to talk about the past, such as "I was tired last night" and "It was rainy yesterday". Tables show the affirmative, negative, and question forms of the verb to be in the simple past tense, including short answers like "Yes, I was" or "No, I wasn't". The document concludes with an example question and short answer using the simple past of to be.

1. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa
Facultad de Ciencias Humanas
Departamento de Lenguas Extranjeras
Welcome to work
with Unit 3
Prof. Ma. Graciela Eliggi
Prof. Liliana Inés Monserrat
Prof. Ma. Elena Pérez Bustillo
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2. Pay attention to the following
situation. What happens?
Now Anna IS at work.
Last night, at 11p.m., she WASN’T at
Last night (Past) work. She WAS in bed, she WAS asleep.
Now
(Present)
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3. Verb To be (ser o estar)
Simple Past
Am / Is WAS (past)
Present
Are WERE (past)
Examples:
I am tired. (now) I was tired last night.
It is sunny today. (now) It was rainy yesterday.
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4. Verb To be
Affirmative Negative Question
I I I?
He He WAS NOT he?
She WAS She = WAS she?
It It (wasn’t) it?
We We WERE NOT we?
You WERE You = WERE you?
They They (weren’t) they?
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5. Short Answers
Yes, I / he / she / it was.
Yes, we / you / they were.
No, I / he / she / it wasn’t.
No, we / you / they weren’t.
Were you at
home No, I wasn’t.
yesterday I was at the
morning? office.
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