Grammar · Free lesson
Was or were? Describe a past situation
Yesterday you and your friends were at different places. Choose the past form of be that matches each person or group.
Professor Scott MendozaThe short answer
For ordinary past facts, use was with I, he, she, it and a singular noun. Use were with you, we, they and plural nouns. You were works whether you are speaking to one person or several.
Find the subject before choosing the verb.
The subject is who or what the sentence is about. “I was at the library” uses was with I. “My friends were at the park” uses were with the plural my friends. Add not to make a negative: wasn’t or weren’t. In a question, move was or were before the subject: “Were you at the park?”
Change the subject. Check the form.
I was at the library.
My friends were at the park.
You were at the café.
You takes were even when it refers to just one person. Counting people alone is not enough; check the actual subject.
Build the past statement
Find who or what
I, your friend, your friends or you?
Choose was or were
I was. Your friend was. Your friends were. You were.
Add the situation
At the library, busy or ready.
Try it now
Check what you’ve learned.
Read all answers and explanations
Complete: “My sister ___ at the station yesterday.”
wasMy sister is a singular subject, so was fits this past statement.
You are talking to one friend. Complete: “You ___ very helpful yesterday.”
wereYou takes were in this ordinary past statement, even for one person.
Choose the past question with be.
Were the shops open?Put were before the plural subject the shops. This question does not need did.
Put it into practice
Keep both travelers in the story.
Two friends were tired after their journey. Keep my friends as the subject and repair the verb.
My friends was tired after the journey.
See a model answer
My friends were tired after the journey.
Fix the agreement without changing who the sentence is about.
A little more clarity
Common questions
A few useful details before you move on.
Why is you were correct for one person?
The standard past form with you is were. You can address one person or a group with the same form.
To one friend: “You were right.”
Should I say didn’t be?
For the ordinary past states practiced here, use wasn’t or weren’t. Do not add did to the was/were pattern.
“I wasn’t ready.” / “They weren’t ready.”
Take it into your day
Describe where you and one other person were yesterday. Use I was, then a sentence with you were or they were.
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Continue with the course’s Simple Past Tense and Helping Verb — To Be lessons. The English Grammar and English Speaking course connects these foundations with review, practice and wider speaking material.
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