To be is the most common verb in the English language. It can
be used as an auxiliary or a main verb. In the simple past tense, to be is conjugated
as follows:
Singular = 1 | Plural = 1+ | ||
---|---|---|---|
I | was | You | were |
You | were | We | were |
He/she/it | was | They | were |
Uses
Was/Were
Question ? | Positive Statement + |
Negative Statement - |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Singular | Written Form or spoken for emphasis |
Written Form or spoken for emphasis
|
Contracted Form (spoken) |
||
Plural | |||||
Examples
Were | Was | |
---|---|---|
Question - ? | "Were you busy on Monday?" | "Was it nice at the weekend?" |
Positive Answer + Yes | "Yes we were." | "Yes it was. It was lovely." |
Negative Answer - No | "No we weren't." | "No it wasn't. It wasn't very nice at all." |
Want to know more about the use of verbs? Read our recommended grammar books section.
Forms of the verb "To be"