Was/were – past simple of ‘be’

Was vs Were Exercise

This exercise focuses on Was vs Were

When to Use "Was" and "Were"

The choice between "was" and "were" depends on the subject of the sentence:

• Was is used with I, he, she, it (singular subjects).

• Were is used with you, we, they (plural subjects and "you" in both singular and plural form).

Examples:

Using "Was" and "Were" in Positive Sentences

For positive statements in the past, use "was" or "were" depending on the subject.

Examples:

• "I was tired after work."

• "He was a great teacher."

• "They were at the party last night."

• "We were in Paris last summer."

Using "Was" and "Were" in Negative Sentences

To make negative sentences, add "not" after "was" or "were." You can also use the contractions "wasn’t" (was not) and "weren’t" (were not).

Examples:

• "I was not (wasn’t) ready for the test."

• "She wasn’t at home last night."

• "They were not (weren’t) interested in the game."

• "We weren’t happy with the result."

Using "Was" and "Were" in Questions

To form questions, start the sentence with "was" or "were," followed by the subject.

Examples: 

• "Was she at the meeting yesterday?"

• "Were you in class this morning?"

• "Was it raining yesterday?"

• "Were they friends in college?"

Examples in Context

1. Positive Sentence: "He was a doctor."

2. Negative Sentence: "They weren’t at the park yesterday."

3. Question: "Were you awake when the alarm rang?"

Quick Reference Table