Verb To Be in English. Use was and were

If you came to our blog to find out was, were in English As a rule, we got exactly where we needed to. We will look at how and when these forms of the verb “to be” are used and why our life is impossible without this knowledge.

First and most important:

was, were in English - past form of the verb “to be” !Past forms are used without the particle “to”, because are not infinitive forms of the verb!

The use of was, were in English, the rule:

1. To the singular subject we add “was”

I, He, She, It- singular persons who are friends only with “was”!

2. To the plural subject we add “were”

We, You, They- plural persons who are friends only with “were”! For example:

P.S. Do you know why “You” is plural? After all, at school we were taught that this translates as the pronoun “you”. Everything is wrong!

In fact, Americans are so well-mannered that they always address each other exclusively as “you.” This is precisely why this pronoun is considered plural.

But even in Russian, we always use the pronoun “You” only in plural, even addressing one person (but in a respectful manner). For example:

Second and also important rule:

The use of was, were in English does not cost Past Continuous. This tense speaks of an extended activity (process) that occurred in the past. You will never confuse it with the ordinary past tense Past Simple, because:

1. Continuous- it's always a process.

2. IN Past Continuous we see certain time indications of the process:

When you called I was making a cake for my brother.

As you can see, it is not necessary here exact time, there should be a hint at the moment at which the process lasted.

3. was, were in English they are always basic auxiliary verbs.

There are no differences in the use of our verbs was, were in comparison with the first paragraph. There is only a peculiarity: the predicate will be able to have the ending “ing” (Always only this ending and no other changes to the verb. You don’t need to learn the table of irregular verbs to express your thought in the Past Continuous. Just add the ending “ing” to the main verb.).

Also, one cannot help but say that was, were in English is used in the passive voice and in a number of other laws and rules foreign language, but we revealed the most striking functions of these verbs in our article.

If you have an addition to our story about was, were in English, the rules of their use and features, then feel free to write your thoughts in the comments and we will discuss your ideas.

Verb to be in Past Simple

In the present tense (Present Simple) the verb to be has 3 forms: am (singular), is (singular), are (plural), in the past (Past Simple) 2 forms: was (singular) , were (plural).

Circumstances of the Past Simple:

1. Yesterday - yesterday

2. Last week (last year, last month)- last week (last year, last month)

3. Last autumn (last spring) - last fall (last spring)

4. 2 years ago - 2 years ago

5. in 1997 - in 1997

6. When I was young - when I was young (when my grandmother was young - when my grandmother was young, being young - being young, in his youth)

7. In childhood - in childhood.

When the verbs were, were ( in what situations)?

- in the same semantic cases as the verbs am, is, are (see memo):

1. When we call person's name:

Her name was Jane. - Her name was Jane.

Their names were Jack and Fred. - Their names were Jack and Fred.

2. When we call age:

Jane was 21 last year. - Jane turned 21 last year.

My parents were 45 last month. - My parents turned 45 last month.

3. When we call location person or group of people.

They were at the party last week. - They were at a party last week.

4. When we describe a person or object.

He was tall and slender. - He was tall and slender.

5. When we list a person’s qualities.

He was smart and generous. - He was smart and generous.

6. In stable expressions:

They were interested in Music 5 years ago. - They were interested in music (as a subject) 5 years ago.

I was fond of basketball when I was young. - I was fond of basketball when I was young.

My sister was good at History when she studied at school. - My sister was a good history student (= she was good at history) when she was at school.

7. Pr Anddescription of the weather conditions.

It was warm and slippery last week. - Last week it was warm and slippery.

It was cold and windy this autumn. - This autumn it was cold and windy.

When do we use was, were (with what pronouns)?

Linking verb was we use with all singular pronouns(I, he, she, it) and singular nouns numbers, for example: I was a student (I was a student). John was a student. (John was a student)

Linking verb were we use with all plural pronouns(you, we, they) and plural nouns, for example: They were students (They were students). Our parents were students many years ago (Our parents were students many years ago).

!!!: With a pronoun you we always use a plural linking verb: in the present tense are, in the past were, regardless of how you is translated in the sentence “you” or “you”, since the pronoun you has in English. language only plural form. For example: You were a good specialist. (You/You were/were a good specialist).

At the same time, when we address you, meaning a whole group of people, we use the plural noun after the linking verb: You were good students.(You were good students ).

Formation of a sentence with the verb to be:

Accepted abbreviations

I wasn't = I wasn't (worried)

He was = He’s (khiz) He was not = He "s not = He wasn"t (heightened)

She was = She’s (shiz) She was not = She’s not = She wasn’t (worried)

You were= You’re (yue) You were not = You weren’t (vent)

We were= We’re (vie) We were not = We weren’t (vent)

They were= They're (ve(th)e) They were not = They weren't"t (vent)

The day before yesterday, after a lesson, one student (by the way, upper-intermediate level) came up to me and said literally the following: “I don’t understand when in the past tense you need to say did, and sometimes was. Often this melts the brain and causes dry mouth. "

Vividly imagining the girl’s melted brain and dried out mouth, I decided that she needed help. Let's figure out these did and was.

Rule 1.

If we need to say in the past tenseaffirmative sentence, then we say the second form of the verb.

For example: I wrote a love letter to the president. I asked him to marry me. - I wrote love letter to the president. I asked so that he would marry me.

Rule 2.

If we need to say in the past tense interrogative or negative sentence then we say did(or didn't)+ 1 verb form.

For example: Why did you drink my beer ? - I didn't drink your beer. It's evaporated. - Why did you drink my beer? - I didn't drink it. It evaporated.

In this case the verb did - past tense marker. That is, he doesn't not translated, but serves the sole purpose of showing the past tense.

The verb do is the same as all other verbs. That is, if we want to put it in the past tense, we will say it the second form is did (according to rule 1).

For example: I did yoga, ate a banana and went to Yvonne. - I did yoga, ate a banana and went to Yvonne.

What if we want to say this very verb do in a question or negation? Look at rule 2. In accordance with it you need to speak did you do or didn't do.

For example: When did you do the Cosmopolitain test? - I didn't do it. I'm up to the magazine. - When you did test from Cosmopolitan magazine? - I didn't his. I tore the magazine to shreds.

At the same time in the phrase "did you do" the first did is marker, which does not not translated, but the second do is full verb, which translated as "did".

There is one verb that behaves ugly, spits on all the rules and selfishly ignores various stupid markers. Its name is Verb To Be.

Look again at Rule 2 and say in English: “I didn’t buy,” “I didn’t eat,” “I didn’t wash,” and “I didn’t tear.”

What happened? I didn't buy, I didn't eat, I didn't wash and I didn't tear up.

And it turns out that by analogy “I wasn’t” there will be I didn’t be, right?

But we have to talk I wasn't. Because the verb to be is egoist.

And in the question, too, you should say not “did he be,” but "was he".

For example:

Was John at home when the police came? - No wasn't at home. He was in the garage. - John was home when the police arrived? - He wasn't Houses. He was in the garage.

Here the verb was translated into Russian.

And sometimes there was not translated, but only shows that we are in Past Continuous time. This is the past tense, which answers the question “what did” (not “what did”).

For example: Last evening I was eating crayfish pate and reading Walter Scott. - Last night I ate(what did) crayfish pate and read(what did) Walter Scott.

So, let's summarize.

1) Did can mean "did". Then the interrogative form will be - "Did you do?" - “Did you do it?”, and denial - “I didn’t do” - “I didn’t do it.”

2) “Did” can be a Past Simple marker (past tense answering the question “what did you do?”). In this case, did does not translate in any way: “Did you buy?” - “Did you buy it?”; "I didn"t forget" - "I didn't forget."

3) Sometimes “was” (were)* means “was(and)”. In this case, the question is “Were you / was he?”*, and the negation is “I wasn”t / you weren’t”*.

4) Sometimes “was” is a Past Continuous marker (past tense answering the question “what did you do?”). In this case, was is not translated in any way.

* I was
You were
He / she / it was
We were
They were

And now - an exercise. Translate into English.

1. Did you go to the dwarf theater yesterday? - No.
2. Yesterday I did a lot of good deeds.
3. Podger was sleeping while the doctor was eating crayfish pate.
4. When did Louise arrive from Montenegro? - She didn't come.
5. Why did you do it? homework?
6. Yesterday I was picking mushrooms, but I didn’t forget to congratulate Pedro on his birthday.
7. I was at the fitness club, but didn’t do anything there.

Keys to the exercise -

Let's learn to distinguish was And were– past forms of the verb of being.

Was

Was consistent with singular, that is, it is placed after I, he, she, it and their substitutes. It denotes everything inanimate and sexless.

Iwasshopping – I was shopping

He was eating pizza – Heatepizza

She was laughing - Shelaughed

Itwasbeautiful – It was beautiful

wasn't (= wasn't)

A separate form is allowed in emphasis (strong emotional denial) and officialdom.

I wasn’t happy – I was unhappy

He wasn’t sad - He wasn’t sad

Wassb…?

In questions with was it is placed first. Remember that general questions end with a rising tone.

Washehappy? – Was he happy?

Wasshesad? – Was she sad?

Wasis it raining? – Walkedrain?

Were

Were consistent with plural, that is, it is placed after we, you, they and their substitutes.

Wewerehappy - We were happy

They were singing – Theysang

You were watching the video – Youwatchedmovies

They were growling - They growled

weren't (= weren't)

A separate form is allowed in emphasis and officialdom.

Weweren'tthappy - We weren't happy

They weren’t singing – TheyNotsang

You weren’t watching the video – You didn’t watch the video

They weren’t growling - They didn’t growl

Were sb...?

In questions with were it is placed first.

Werewehappy? - Were we happy?

Wereare they singing? - Theysang?

Wereare you singing? - Yousang?

English Joke

The good wife, after she and her husband had retired for the night, discussed for a long time with much eloquence. When she was interrupted by a snore from her spouse, she thumped the sleeper into wakefulness, and then remarked:

“John, do you know what I think of a man who will go to sleep while his own wife is a-talkin’ to him?”

“Well, now, I believe as how I do, Martha,” was the drowsily uttered response. “But don’t let that stop you. Go right ahead, an’ git it off your mind.”

Tenses in English become a real obstacle for many who strive to master it. Another difficulty is the use various forms verb depending on the person and number of the subject. Such an example is the verb be: even having understood in what cases was/were is used, not everyone realizes when the first option is used and when the second?

Was/were– second form irregular verb be, referring to the past tense. The construction “there was/where” is translated as “was”, “there was”. This verb connects parts of speech (for example, two nouns, a noun and a pronoun or an adjective) in those sentences where there is no semantic verb.

How do you remember when to use which form? With pronouns/nouns in the singular – was (I/he/she/it), in the plural – were (you/we/they). Please note that after you, which is used for both “you” and “you” in English, you must write were. Where there are many of us (we, they) - there the word is longer (were - were), where there is one person (I, he ...) - there it is shorter (was - was).

However, you need to keep in mind the construction If I were, which is found in present tense conditional sentences and which requires the presence of were after the pronoun I. Example: “If I were you, I would definitely press a like button below this post.” Do not confuse with similar constructions that contain "I was" because they are not conditions. For example: “Sorry if I was rude with you on the phone yesterday.”

Conclusions website

1. Was – for the main word in the singular, Were – in the plural (but remember the exception to this rule “If I were” in conditional sentences)