When do I use was and when do I use were?

Use was with I, he, she and it. Use were with you, we and they. So we say I was at home and they were at school. There is no other rule to learn here, so the fastest way is simply to practise both words in short sentences.

Does this was or were test have answers?

Yes. All 50 questions in the five exercises show the right answer and a short, simple explanation when you check them. Nothing is hidden, the test is completely free, and you do not need to make an account before you start.

How do I make a question with was or were?

Put was or were before the person: Was she happy? Were you late? For a negative, add not after the word: I was not tired, they were not here. The short forms wasn and weren are very common in everyday speech too.

Which people take was and which take were?

I, he, she and it take was. You, we and they take were. That is the whole rule, so practise both until it feels automatic.

Is it ever correct to say I were?

Not at this level. I always takes was in normal English, so I was tired is right and I were tired is wrong.

Olly English

Olly is preparing your space...

Olly English

Loading page content...

lightbulbExplanation

Was or Were – A1 Grammar Exercises with Answers

Exercises:

Choose was or were to complete each sentence.

Example

✅ Correct	❌ Wrong
They were at home.	They was at home.

Question 1 of 10

I ___ at the park yesterday.

Keep practising

Prepositions of Place: At, In and On

This, That, These and Those: Pointing at Things

Would Like: Polite Requests and Wishes

A Day in the Life of an Airline Pilot (A1 Reading)

Want the rules first?Read the explanation: Was or Were – A1 Grammar Exercises with Answers →

▸Answer key

Practice Questions & Answers

All A1 questions for “Was or Were – A1 Grammar Exercises with Answers”, each with the correct answer and a short explanation. Try the interactive exercises above, then check your answers here.

Was and Were with Different People

1. I ___ at the park yesterday.
- A. was ✓
- B. were
- C. am
- D. are
Answer: was
I always takes was.
2. They ___ very happy.
- A. was
- B. were ✓
- C. is
- D. am
Answer: were
They always takes were.
3. She ___ my teacher.

Written by the Olly English team · How we build our tests

More A1 English Practice

Keep practising with related reading and grammar units at your level.

A1 · Reading

A Day in the Life of an Airline Pilot: A1 Reading Practice

A1 · ReadingA1 · Reading

A Simple Restaurant Menu (A1 Reading)

Was or Were – A1 Grammar Test (with Answers)

Was or Were – A1 Grammar Exercises with Answers

I ___ at the park yesterday.

Keep practising

Prepositions of Place: At, In and On

This, That, These and Those: Pointing at Things

Would Like: Polite Requests and Wishes

A Day in the Life of an Airline Pilot (A1 Reading)

Practice Questions & Answers

Was and Were with Different People

More A1 English Practice

A Day in the Life of an Airline Pilot: A1 Reading Practice

A Simple Restaurant Menu (A1 Reading)

Was and Were in a Story: the Athens Olympics

Word Order with Was and Were

Was and Were: Talking About the Weekend

Was and Were: From Now to Yesterday

A Study Timetable (A1 Reading)

An Email to a Friend (A1 Reading)

Looking for the Perfect Home (A1 Reading)

My Summer Holiday Plan (A1 Reading)