Do you remember the verb to be in the present?

I am happy. → I was happy.

Now we’ll learn how to use was and were to talk about the past.

⏳ Talking about the past

We use was and were to describe people, places, feelings, and situations in the past.

Yesterday, I was tired.

👤 Talking about yourself

I was

Yesterday, I was at home.

👥 Talking about others

you were

You were late yesterday.

she was

She was happy after the exam.

he was

He was my teacher.

it was

It was a beautiful day.

📌 Use he for a man, she for a woman, and it for an object, an animal, or a situation.

👨‍👩‍👧 Talking about groups

we were

We were very busy last week.

they were

They were at the party.

👉 Tip: We use they for groups of people and also when we don’t know someone’s gender.

💡 Remember:

• was → I, he, she, it
• were → you, we, they

• I was sick yesterday.
• She was in Paris last month.
• You were right.
• We were friends.
• They were excited.

📊 Summary Table

🚀 For Extra Practice

Practice saying these aloud:

• Talk about yesterday: “I was…”
• Talk about a friend: “He was…” / “She was…”
• Describe yesterday’s weather: “It was…”
• Talk about last weekend: “We were…” / “They were…”

In the next step, you’ll also practice using negatives (wasn’t / weren’t) and questions (Was I…? Were you…? Was she…?).

✏️ Exercises – Verb To Be (Past)

1) Complete with the correct form of was or were:

a) I ___ at home yesterday.

b) She ___ very happy.

c) They ___ at the beach.

d) We ___ tired after work.

e) He ___ my English teacher.

f) Yesterday, it ___ very cold.

g) You ___ late for class.

h) My parents ___ in Brazil last month.

i) The movie ___ interesting.

j) I ___ busy all day.

3) Rewrite the sentences in the negative.

a) I was at school. → ____________

b) She was happy. → ____________

c) They were friends. → ____________

d) We were at home. → ____________

e) It was expensive. → ____________

4) Make questions using was or were.

a) you / at home → ____________ ?

b) she / tired → ____________ ?

c) they / at school → ____________ ?

d) he / your teacher → ____________ ?

e) it / cold yesterday → ____________ ?

5) Translate into English.

a) Eu estava cansado(a).

b) Ela estava em casa.

c) Nós estávamos felizes.

d) Eles estavam ocupados.

e) Ontem estava quente.

✅ Answer Key – Verb To Be (Past)

1) Complete with was or were:

a) I was at home yesterday.

b) She was very happy.

c) They were at the beach.

d) We were tired after work.

e) He was my English teacher.

f) Yesterday, it was very cold.

g) You were late for class.

h) My parents were in Brazil last month.

i) The movie was interesting.

j) I was busy all day.

3) Rewrite the sentences in the negative.

a) I was at school. → I wasn’t at school.

b) She was happy. → She wasn’t happy.

c) They were friends. → They weren’t friends.

d) We were at home. → We weren’t at home.

e) It was expensive. → It wasn’t expensive.

4) Make questions using was or were.

a) you / at home → Were you at home?

b) she / tired → Was she tired?

c) they / at school → Were they at school?

d) he / your teacher → Was he your teacher?

e) it / cold yesterday → Was it cold yesterday?

5) Translate into English.

a) Eu estava cansado(a). → I was tired.

b) Ela estava em casa. → She was at home.

c) Nós estávamos felizes. → We were happy.

d) Eles estavam ocupados. → They were busy.

e) Ontem estava quente. → It was hot yesterday.

⭐ Common Time Expressions

These expressions are often used with was and were:

• yesterday
• last night
• last week
• last month
• last year
• two days ago
• in 2020
• when I was a child

• I was at the gym yesterday.
• They were in London last year.
• She was very shy when she was a child.

🎯 Quick Challenge

Complete the sentences:

1. Last weekend, I ______ very busy.
2. My best friend ______ at school yesterday.
3. We ______ at the beach last summer.
4. It ______ rainy this morning.
5. They ______ excited about the trip.

Answers: 1. was • 2. was • 3. were • 4. was • 5. were