This document provides instruction on using was/were to talk about things in the past. It explains that was/were are used with subjects to talk about origin, identity, age, location, size, and mood in the past. Examples of affirmative, negative, and interrogative sentences are given for was and were. Contractions like wasn't and weren't are also covered. The document demonstrates question forms starting with wh- words like what, when, where, how and why.

1. By Frank Chavira

7. 
We use was / were to talk about …
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦
◦

Origin
Identity
Age
Location
Size
Mood
In the past

8. 


Affirmative
Negative
interrogative

9. 



I was very happy.
Subject + was + complement.
They were very happy.
Subject + were + complement.
Subject
Verb be
Complement
I
He
She
was
It
very happy
You
We
They
were

10. 



I was not in Japan.
Subject + was + not+ complement.
They were not in Japan.
Subject + were + not + complement.
Subject
Verb be
Not
Complement
I
He
She
was
not
You
They
were
in Japan
was not
wasn’t
were not
It
We
Contractions
weren’t

11. 



Was he scared?
Was + subject + complement + ? (question mark)
Were they scared?
were+ subject + complement + ? (question mark)
Verb be
Subject
Complement
Question
mark
scared
?
I
was
He
She
It
You
were
We
They

12. 



When was he in London?
Wh- was + subject + complement + ? (question mark)
When were they in London?
Wh- were+ subject + complement + ? (question mark)
Whword
Verb be
was
scared
?
She
It
Who
You
Where
Question
mark
He
How
Why
Complement
I
What
When
Subject
were
We
They