SIMPLE PAST TENSE WITH TO BE

Function:

We use simple past tense with to be to express conditions in the past.

Examples:

            *My father was in Jakarta last week.

            *There was an accident on Urip Sumoharjo street yesterday.

            *The children were happy at the beach two days ago.

Pattern:

            (+).Subject + was / were + Complement(noun/adjective/adverb of place).

            (-).Subject + was / were + not + Complement(noun/adjective/adverb of place).

            (?).Was / Were + Subject + Complement(noun/adjective/adverb of place)?

            Note:

Was: I/ she /he /it

            Were: They/ we/ you

Time signal:

-          Yesterday

-          …. Ago (three days ago, two years ago…)

-          Last…(last week, last month..) etc..

Examples:

            (+) My aunt was fat when she was young.

            (-)  My aunt was not fat when she was young.

            (?) Was my aunt fat when she was young? Yes, she was/ No, She was not.

Exercises:

A.      Arrange these words in order to be good sentences!

1.       Was - at - home - her - last - sister - night.

2.      Not - in - we - Bali - were - yesterday.

3.      His- was – luxurious – car?

4.      Was – a – high – beside – there – building – school – my.

5.       Sick – was – Andrew – ago – days – three?

B.      Answer these questions!

1.      Where were you last night?

2.      Were you naughty when you were kid?

3.      Was your father in the office yesterday?

4.      Who was at your home last night?

5.      How was your English score when you were at Elementary school?

 

Related topic:
Simple present with verb