“To Be” Past Tense
The past tense of the verb “to be” is was and were. We use was with the following personal pronouns: I-he-she-it. We use were with the following pronouns: we-you-they. The negative form of was is wasn’t = was + not and weren’t = were + not. This explanation is better illustrated in the chart below.
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer I was |
I wasn’t |
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer You were |
You weren’t |
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer He was |
He wasn’t |
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer She was |
She wasn’t |
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer It was |
It wasn’t |
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer We were |
We weren’t |
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer They were |
They weren’t |
We use these forms when we want to use the verb “to be” in the past to describe; location, professions, marital status, age, feelings.
Expressions of past time
| Expressions of time with the word yesterday |
Expressions of time with the word last |
Expressions of time with the word ago |
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer Yesterday morning |
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer Last night |
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer One second ago |
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer Yesterday afternoon |
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer Last week |
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer Five minutes ago |
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer Yesterday evening |
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer Last month |
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer Twenty years ago |
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer The day before yesterday |
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer Last year |
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer One million years ago |
The chart below illustrates better the grammatical structure utilize to form sentences with the forms of the verb to be in simple past tense.
|
Subject + |
Was or Were + | Complementizer | + Expression of past time |
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer I |
was
|
in the restaurant
|
last night.
|
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer You |
were
|
sick
|
yesterday.
|
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer He |
was
|
in Italy
|
two years ago.
|
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer She |
was
|
upset
|
last night.
|
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer It |
was
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cold
|
last week.
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Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer We |
were
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at the party
|
last Friday.
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Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer They |
were
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in love
|
a long time ago.
|
The followig examples illustrate the grammatical structure utilize when making affirmative statements, negative statements and questions with the forms of the verb to be past tense.
Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer Statement: |
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Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer Question: |
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Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer Affirmative Answer: |
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Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer Negative Answer: |
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Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer Statement: |
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Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer Question: |
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Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer Affirmative Answer: |
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Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer Negative Answer: |
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Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer Statement: |
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Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer Question: |
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Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer Affirmative Answer: |
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Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer Negative Answer: |
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Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer Statement: |
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Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer Question: |
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Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer Affirmative Answer: |
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Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer Negative Answer: |
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Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer Statement: |
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Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer Question: |
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Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer Affirmative Answer: |
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Error occurred when trying to fetch the file using wp_safe_remote_get(). cURL error 56: Recv failure: Connection reset by peer Negative Answer: |
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