This document provides information about conjugating the verb "to be" in the past tense. It discusses using "was" and "were" for positive and negative statements as well as questions in the past tense. Examples are given to illustrate using "was" and "were" with different subjects in simple past statements, negative statements, questions, and short answers.

1. (The past of the verb TO BE)

2. TO BE: AM - IS - ARE (NOW)
I am a teacher.
The weather is good.
I am at work.
You are late.
TO BE: WAS – WERE (PAST)
I was a teacher.
The weather was good.
I was at work.
You were late.

3. POSITIVE
I
He
She
It
We
You
They
WAS
WERE
EXAMPLES:
I was tired last night.
I was born in Australia.
We were at home yesterday.
You were in bed last night.
They were late 5 days ago.
He was ill last week.

4. NEGATIVE
I
He
She
It
We
You
They
WAS NOT
(WASN’T)
WERE NOT
(WEREN’T)
EXAMPLES:
I wasn’t at school.
She wasn’t in bed.
We weren’t at home last week.
You weren’t tired yesterday.
They weren’t here last night.
The hotel wasn’t expensive.

5. QUESTION?
I?
he?
she?
it?
we?
you?
they?
WAS
WERE
EXAMPLES:
Was the weather nice?
Were you at the doctor’s?
Was Ted at work yesterday?
Were Sue and Steve at the
party?

6. SHORT
ANSWERS
WAS.
WERE.
I / he / she / it
Yes,
we / you / they
No,
I / he / she / it
we / you / they
WASN’T.
WEREN’T.

7. EXAMPLES:
Were you at the supermarket? No, I wasn’t.
Was Ahmet born in Turkey? Yes, he was.
Was it hot yesterday? No, it wasn’t.
Those shoes are nice. Were they expensive? Yes, they
were.
Was the exam hard? No, it wasn’t.