English · A2 · verb · 4 minutes
Be: past simple
Use was and were for past identity, description, and location.
Understand the choice
Be forms questions by inversion and negatives with not, without did. Were also appears in formal unreal if clauses at higher levels.
Core rule: Past be uses was with I/he/she/it and singular nouns; were with you/we/they and plural nouns.
Notice it in context
I was busy, but my friends were free.
Estaba ocupado, pero mis amigos estaban libres.
Was agrees with I; were agrees with plural friends.
Where were you yesterday?
What was your location yesterday?
Were precedes you in a past be question.
She was at home, and we were at work.
Her past location was home; ours was work.
Was/were contrast singular she and plural we.
What to remember
- Contractions were not→weren’t and was not→wasn’t are common.
- You always takes were, singular or plural.
Common trap: Do not use did with be: were you…?, not did you be…?