Was and Were

Content

• Examples of Was and Were

Words was and were are the past tense conjugation of verb to be", which could be translated into Spanish as "ser" or "estar", depending on the context in which it is used.

The meaning of both verbs (was and were) is exactly the same. The difference is that they are used for different people, as shown below:

-If it is used affirmative way:

• I was
• You were
• He was
• We were
• You were
• They were

-In the event that it is used to negative expressions, the usage is as follows:

• I was not / I wasn’t
• You were not / You weren’t
• He was not / He wasn’t
• We were not / We weren’t
• You were not / You weren’t
• They were not / They weren’t

-To use this verb in questions, it is formulated as follows:  

• Was I?
• Are you?
• Was he?
• Are we?
• Are you?
• Are they?

Examples of Was and Were

1. I have was reading when I called (He was reading when I called him).
2. Yesterday, they were at the club playing football (Yesterday they were at the club playing soccer).
3. I wasn’t sleeping when she was talking (I wasn't sleeping when she spoke).
4. Weren’t you 21 years old? (You weren't 21)
5. We were so tired that we decided to stay at home (We were so tired that we decided to stay home).
6. I have was trying to sleep when I arrived (He was trying to sleep when I called him).
7. I think that they weren’t so professional as they said (I think they weren't as professional as they said).
8. The game was very funny (The game was very fun).
9. We were to the club last weekend? I can't remember (Did we go to the club last week? I can't remember).
10. They were at the supermarket this afternoon (They were at the supermarket this afternoon).
11. In that moment we weren’t married. That was before! (At the time he was not married. It was before!)
12. My mother was a teacher but then she got a better job at a company (My mom was a teacher but later she got a better job in a company).
13. I thought they were right but then I realized that I was committing a big mistake (I thought they were right but then I realized that I was making a big mistake).
14. I was angry, that is why I was shoutingI was angry, that's why I was screaming).
15. Was he your boyfriend at school? You were crazy! (Was he your boyfriend at school? You were crazy!).
16. Where was i have I have was at home (Where was it? He was at his house).
17. She was in the office in that momentShe was in the office at the time).
18. When was John at the museum? (When did John go to the museum?)
19. Weren’t they happy after the news? (Weren't you happy after the news?)
20. Why wasn’t he there? (Why wasn't it there?)
21. Was I soon? (Was he early?)
22. She was sleeping in that momentShe was sleeping at the time).
23. We were wrong, I know (We were wrong I know).
24. They were so happy in that cityThey were so happy in that city).
25. You weren’t my friend in that momentYou weren't my friend at the time).

Andrea is a language teacher, and on her Instagram account she offers private lessons by video call so that you can learn to speak English.