Ampersand Lab

Foundation grammar · Lesson 10 · A1

was/were

Was and were are the past of am, is and are: I, he, she and it take was; we, you and they take were. The negatives are wasn't and weren't.

Start the lesson

14Steps · about 22 minutes

In this lesson

Now and last nightA4 screens of questions
Positive, negative, questionB4 screens of questions
Short answersC1 screen of questions

Point A of 3

Now and last night

Now Martin is at work.

At midnight last night he wasn't at work. He was in bed. He was asleep, and snoring, according to the neighbours.

Present Past
am, is was
are were
  • I'm tired now. I was tired last night.
  • Where is Ann? Where was Ann yesterday?
  • The weather is lovely today. The weather was lovely last week.
  • You're late. You were late yesterday.
  • They aren't here. They weren't here last Sunday.

Point A · Exercise 10.1 · part 1 of 2

Where were these people at three o'clock yesterday afternoon? Write a sentence for each scene.

  1. Example

    George is asleep in bed.

    George ...

    George was in bed.

    AnswerGeorge was in bed.

  2. Carol and Jack are sitting in a cinema.

    Carol and Jack ...

  3. Sue is standing at the bus stop.

    Sue ...

  4. Mr and Mrs Hall are lying on a beach.

    Mr and Mrs Hall ...

  5. Ben is swimming in a pool.

    Ben ...

Point A · Exercise 10.1 · part 2 of 2

Where were these people at three o'clock yesterday afternoon? Write a sentence for each scene.

  1. And you? You were at work.

    I ...

Point A · Exercise 10.2 · part 1 of 2

Put in am, is, are (present) or was, were (past).

  1. Example

    Last year she was twenty-two, so she is twenty-three now.

    AnswerLast year she was twenty-two, so she is twenty-three now.

  2. Today the weather lovely, but yesterday it freezing.

  3. I starving. Is there anything in the fridge?

  4. I feel fine this morning, but I very tired last night.

  5. Where you at eleven o'clock last Friday morning?

Point A · Exercise 10.2 · part 2 of 2

Put in am, is, are (present) or was, were (past).

  1. Don't buy those trainers. They very expensive.

  2. I like your new coat. it expensive?

  3. This time last year I in Portugal.

  4. "Where the kids?" "I don't know. They in the garden ten minutes ago."

Point B of 3

Positive, negative, question

Positive Negative Question
I, he, she, it was I, he, she, it was not (wasn't) was I, he, she, it?
we, you, they were we, you, they were not (weren't) were we, you, they?
  • Last year Rachel was twenty-two, so she's twenty-three now.
  • When I was little, I was afraid of the dark.
  • The kids were muddy after the walk, but they weren't cold.
  • The hotel was comfortable, but it wasn't expensive.
  • Was the food good when you were in Naples?
  • Those boots are nice. Were they expensive?
  • Why were you late this morning?

Point B · Exercise 10.3 · part 1 of 2

Put in was, were, wasn't or weren't.

  1. Example

    The campsite was disappointing. The showers were cold and the toilets weren't very clean.

    AnswerThe campsite was disappointing. The showers were cold and the toilets weren't very clean.

  2. George at work last week because he ill. He's better now.

  3. Yesterday a bank holiday, so the shops shut. They're open today.

  4. " Sue and Bill at the party?" "Sue there, but Bill ."

  5. "Where are my glasses?" "No idea. They by the sink this morning, but they've gone now."

Point B · Exercise 10.3 · part 2 of 2

Put in was, were, wasn't or weren't.

  1. You at home last night. Where you?

Point B · Exercise 10.4 · part 1 of 2

Write the questions. Put the words in brackets in the right order and add was or were.

  1. Example

    (late / you / this morning / why?) Answer: The traffic was terrible.

    Why were you late this morning?

    AnswerWhy were you late this morning?

  2. (difficult / your exam?) Answer: No, it was easy.

  3. (last week / where / Ann and Chris?) Answer: They were on holiday.

  4. (your new phone / how much?) Answer: A hundred and fifty pounds.

  5. (angry / you / yesterday / why?) Answer: Because you were late.

Point B · Exercise 10.4 · part 2 of 2

Write the questions. Put the words in brackets in the right order and add was or were.

  1. (nice / the weather / last week?) Answer: Yes, it was gorgeous.

Point C of 3

Short answers

Yes No
Yes, I, he, she, it was. No, I, he, she, it wasn't.
Yes, we, you, they were. No, we, you, they weren't.
  • "Were you late?" "No, I wasn't."
  • "Was Ted at work yesterday?" "Yes, he was."
  • "Were Ali and Jo at the wedding?" "No, they weren't."

Point C · Extra practice

Complete each short answer with was, wasn't, were or weren't.

  1. "Were you at home last night?" "Yes, I ."

  2. "Was the film any good?" "No, it ."

  3. "Were your parents in Spain?" "Yes, they ."

Lesson 10 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: worked/got/went etc. (past simple)Back to the course

–Right

Each point

A. Now and last night–Not checkedB. Positive, negative, question–Not checkedC. Short answers–Not checked