Where were you yesterday? Was and were
The past of be: was and were, in sentences, negatives and questions
What you'll be able to do
Say where you were and how things were in the past: yesterday, last week, when you were a child.
The idea
Was and were are the past of am / is / are.
- I was at home yesterday.I → was
- We were very tired after the trip.we → were
- The film wasn't very good.a negative
- Were you at work on Monday?a question
| Positive | Negative | |
|---|---|---|
| I / he / she / it | was | wasn't |
| you / we / they | were | weren't |
In questions, was / were goes first: Was she happy? Where were you?
Time words for the past
yesterday, last night, last week, two days ago, in 2019, when I was a child
Common mistakes
They was late.→ They were late.I were at the beach.→ I was at the beach.Did you were at home?→ Were you at home?Yesterday I am tired.→ Yesterday I was tired.
Practice
- We _____ at the cinema last night.Options: were · was · are
Show the answer
were — We → were.
- _____ she at school yesterday?Options: Was · Were · Did
Show the answer
Was — She → was, first in a question.
- The museum _____ open on Monday, so we went on Tuesday.Options: wasn't · weren't · isn't
Show the answer
wasn't — The museum = it, in the past: wasn't.
- I _____ born in 1998.
Show the answer
was — I → was.
- My parents _____ teachers before they retired.
Show the answer
were — My parents = they, in the past: were.
In the app, this lesson is taught one idea at a time with the examples read aloud, then practised with questions you answer by choosing or typing. It comes back for review on later days, until you can use it without help.
More on this topic: Talking about the past: English past tenses