Was / Were: Past Simple of 'Be' - A1 Grammar

1. She ___ at school yesterday. She had a doctor's appointment.

• A. wasn't ✓
• B. weren't
• C. didn't be
• D. not was

Answer: wasn't

She + wasn't. Negative of 'was'. Never use 'didn't be' with was/were.

2. ___ your parents at home when you arrived?

• A. Were ✓
• B. Was
• C. Did
• D. Are

Answer: Were

Questions with they (your parents): Were + subject + ...? No 'did' needed.

3. The match ___ exciting. Both teams played really well.

• A. was ✓
• B. were
• C. is
• D. did

Answer: was

It (the match) + was. Singular subject takes 'was'.

4. A: Were they nervous before the presentation? B: Yes, they ___.

• A. were ✓
• B. was
• C. did
• D. are

Answer: were

Short positive answer to a Were they...? question: Yes, they were.

5. I ___ very good at maths when I was at school.

• A. wasn't ✓
• B. weren't
• C. didn't
• D. not was

Answer: wasn't

I + wasn't. Negative of 'was' is 'wasn't'.

6. How old ___ you when you learned to ride a bike?

• A. were ✓
• B. was
• C. did
• D. are

Answer: were

Wh-question with you: How old + were + you + ...?

7. The streets ___ empty because of the storm.

• A. were ✓
• B. was
• C. are
• D. did

Answer: were

They (the streets) + were. Plural subject takes 'were'.

8. A: Was it cold in Canada in January? B: Yes, it ___. Very cold!

• A. was ✓
• B. were
• C. did
• D. is

Answer: was

Short positive answer to a Was it...? question: Yes, it was.

9. We ___ at home last weekend. We went to the countryside.

• A. weren't ✓
• B. wasn't
• C. didn't
• D. not were

Answer: weren't

We + weren't. Negative of 'were' is 'weren't'.

10. ___ he a good student at university?

• A. Was ✓
• B. Were
• C. Did
• D. Is

Answer: Was

Questions with he: Was + he + ...? No 'did' needed with was/were.

1. Last summer, my family and I went on holiday to Portugal. It _____ our first time there and it _____ absolutely wonderful. The weather _____ perfect — hot every day with clear blue skies. Our hotel _____ very big, but it _____ very comfortable and the staff _____ incredibly friendly. The beaches _____ beautiful and the sea _____ too cold. My kids _____ bored for a single moment. My daughter _____ especially happy because there _____ a waterpark near the hotel. The food _____ delicious too. I _____ ready to come home at the end!

• A. was
• B. were
• C. wasn't
• D. was
• E. were
• F. weren't
• G. was
• H. were
• I. wasn't
• J. wasn't
• K. weren't
• L. was
• M. was
• N. were
• O. weren't
• P. were
• Q. was
• R. weren't
• S. were
• T. was
• U. wasn't
• V. wasn't
• W. weren't
• X. was
• Y. weren't
• Z. wasn't
• [. were
• \. was
• ]. were
• ^. weren't
• _. was
• `. were
• a. wasn't
• b. was
• c. were
• d. weren't
• e. wasn't
• f. weren't
• g. was

Answer: was, was, was, wasn't, was, were, were, wasn't, weren't, was, was, was, wasn't

Was: I, he, she, it + singular nouns. Were: you, we, they + plural nouns. Wasn't / weren't for negatives.

1. at / she / yesterday / was / home

Answer: She was at home yesterday.

She + was + place + time expression.

2. the / party / were / at / they / ?

Answer: Were they at the party?

Yes/no question: Were + subject + ...?

3. wasn't / match / the / exciting / very

Answer: The match wasn't very exciting.

Subject + wasn't + adjective. Singular subject (the match) takes wasn't.

4. born / where / you / were / ?

Answer: Where were you born?

Wh-question: Where + were + subject + past participle?

5. ago / my / was / five / teacher / years / great / a

Answer: My teacher was great five years ago.

Subject + was + adjective/noun. 'Five years ago' is a past time expression.

6. happy / weren't / the / news / we / about

Answer: We weren't happy about the news.

Subject + weren't + adjective + prepositional phrase.

7. how / the / was / concert / ?

Answer: How was the concert?

Wh-question: How + was + subject?

8. last / I / night / tired / very / was

Answer: I was very tired last night.

Subject + was + adjective + time expression.

9. the / open / wasn't / yesterday / bank

Answer: The bank wasn't open yesterday.

Subject + wasn't + adjective + time expression.

10. your / ready / were / parents / ?

Answer: Were your parents ready?

Yes/no question with they: Were + subject + adjective?

1. You are an English conversation tutor doing a structured speaking drill with an A1 student. The grammar focus is: (1) was for I/he/she/it, (2) were for you/we/they, (3) wasn't/weren't for negatives, (4) Was/Were + subject for questions, (5) no use of 'did' with was/were. STRUCTURE: Ask exactly 6 questions, one at a time. Wait for the student's full answer before continuing. QUESTIONS TO ASK (in this order): 1. 'Where were you born? What was it like growing up there?' (target: I was born in... It was a small town. / It was very hot.) 2. 'Tell me about your last holiday. Where were you? What was the weather like?' (target: I was in Spain. The weather was great. We weren't at the hotel much.) 3. 'Think about when you were a child. What were your favourite things? What were you like at school?' (target: I was very shy. My favourite thing was football. My teachers were strict.) 4. 'How was your day yesterday? Where were you in the morning and the afternoon?' (target: I was at work in the morning. The meetings were long!) 5. 'Was there anyone important in your childhood, like a teacher or friend? What was he or she like?' (target: My teacher was very kind. She was patient with us.) 6. 'Were you happy at school? What subjects were you good at and bad at?' (target: Yes, I was happy. I was good at maths but I wasn't very good at English.) FEEDBACK RULES: - If the student uses 'were' with I/he/she/it (e.g. 'I were tired'), recast: 'Oh, you were tired! I was tired too.' - If the student uses 'was' with you/we/they (e.g. 'they was happy'), recast: 'They were happy! That is wonderful.' - If the student uses 'did' for negatives or questions (e.g. 'Did she was nice?' or 'I didn't be there'), recast: 'Was she nice? You can ask me too!' - Do NOT explain the grammar rule. Only model the correct form in your reply. - After all 6 questions, give one warm sentence of feedback and say goodbye.

1. Question 1