If you learn English online, you know grammar is tough. But, using the past simple in English – for example, “I was home” or “Where were you last night?” – is quite simple. Show To say these sentences, you need to use the simple past tense of the irregular verb “to be.”
Would you like to know how to use the past tense form of “to be” in English? Read on! Check out our ultimate guide to learning English grammar. How to Form the Past Tense of the English Verb “to be”The main difference between the past tense and the present tense is whether the action you are describing occurred now or in the past. Here are some examples of using the verb “to be” in both the past and present tense: Verb “to be” in past simpleVerb “to be” in simple presentI was a huge fan.I am a huge fan.You were going to college.You are going to college.We were happier last year.We are happier this year. They were at home.They are at home.Now, to understand how to formulate the verb “to be”in past simple yourself, look at the table below: The rules are as follows: I, he, she, it – was You, we, they – were For first person singular and third person singular, use the word was. In all other cases, use were. For example:
Asking question with the verb “to be” in pastIn order to ask a question, was/were needs to be at the beginning of the sentence:
Using the negative form of “to be” in past simpleIn negative sentences, add the adverb not and put it before the word was/were. Remember that most of the time the contraction (shortened form) is used in negative sentences: wasn’t = was not/weren’t = were not.
Get more tips to Learn English Grammar Improve your grammar with a full range of videos, articles and live lessons! Explore resourcesExercise: identify the verb “to be” in past from this songNow I invite you to watch this video of American pop singer Beyoncé, and take note of all the sentences where you hear was/were. Also, think about what the words mean. Check it out: “I Was Here” I wanna leave my footprints on the sands of time Know there was something that, meant something that I left behind When I leave this world, I’ll leave no regrets Leave something to remember, so they won’t forget I was here I lived, I loved I was here I did, I’ve done everything that I wanted And it was more than I thought it would be I will leave my mark so everyone will know I was here I want to say I lived each day, until I died And know that I meant something in, somebody’s life The hearts I have touched, will be the proof that I leave That I made a difference, and this world will see I was here I lived, I loved I was here I did, I’ve done everything that I wanted And it was more than I thought it would be I will leave my mark so everyone will know Prepare to speak confidently Improve your language skills with the latest articles, delivered weekly. SubscribeI agree with Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy I was here I lived, I loved I was here I did, I’ve done everything that I wanted And it was more than I thought it would be I will leave my mark so everyone will know I was here I just want them to know That I gave my all, did my best Brought someone some happiness Left this world a little better just because I was here I was here I lived, I loved I was here I did, I’ve done everything that I wanted And it was more than I thought it would be I wanna leave my mark so everyone will know I was here I lived (I lived), I loved I was here I did (I did), I’ve done I was here I lived (I lived), I loved (I loved) I was here (oh) I did, I’ve done I was here Well, we have gotten to know the verb to be in past simple tense. Enjoy learning English! Good luck! Next article
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30 Most Popular Proverbs in English for Students & LearnersArticle by Larry JonesArticle by: Larry Jones Preply tutor 93 articlesLarry has been teaching English as a Foreign Language since 2008. Having spent 30 years as a British policeman, he teaches English not as an academic but as a communicator. He has degrees in Psychology, IT, Accounting, and English. Larry has experience in teaching IELTS, CAE, CPE, and Business English (including Accounting, Logistics, and Architecture). |