The past simple of ‘to be’

Image

 

They were at the reception desk 5 minutes ago but they are not there now. 

Affirmative

Negative

 

Full form                   Contracted form

 

Interrogative

 

I was

I was not

I wasn't

Was I?

You were

You were not

You weren't

Were you?

He was

He was not

He wasn't

Was he?

She was

She was not

She wasn't

Was she?

It was

It was not

It wasn't

Was it?

We were

We were not

We weren't

Were we?

They were

They were not

They weren't

Were they?


Question:

'to be' + subject + adjective/noun

Was she at work?

Affirmative answer:

Yes + subject + 'to be'

Yes, she was.

Negative answer:

No + subject + 'to be' + not

No, she wasn't.    

 

Note that

We do not use the contracted form for affirmative answers.

Affirmative

Negative

Yes, I was.

No, I wasn't.

Yes, you were.

No, you weren't.

Yes, she was.

No, she wasn't.

Yes, he was.

No, he wasn't.

Yes, it was.

No, it wasn't.

Yes, we were.

No, we weren't.

Yes, they were.

No, they weren't.


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