Basic English Grammar: How to Use WAS and WERE

Do you make mistakes with "was" and "were"? Learn how and when to use the past tense of the verb "to be" with this simple, clear lesson. Practice using "was" and "were" in sentences and questions. An important and useful lesson for beginners and anyone who wants to review the important verb "to be" in English.

Next, watch my video on the difference between Past Simple, Past Continuous, Past Perfect, and Present Perfect:

TRANSCRIPT

Hi. I'm Rebecca from engVid. In this lesson you'll learn how to use the past tense of the verb "to be". Now, as you know, the verb "to be" is a really important verb, so in this lesson you'll learn how to use the words "was" and "were" correctly in English. Now, this is a beginner's lesson, but even if you are at any level and you just want to review the basics, this lesson will help you. So, let's get started.

So, the verb "to be", of course, can be used in the present, in the past, and also in the future. But in this lesson we are focusing on how to use it in the past. I'm going to just review very quickly how to use it in the present, but I think you already know that. Right? Okay. So, when we say: "The present", what do we mean by that? It could mean right now, it could mean this year, it could mean today. Right? So, for example: "I am at work right now. Yesterday I was at home." So when I say "was", that's the past. The past can be yesterday, last night, last week, five years ago; any time before now is the past. Okay. So, let's take another example. "He is a manager this year. Last year he was a worker". "He is" becomes "He was". Next: "She is in London today. Yesterday she was in Paris." Again, "is" became "was". Another example: "It is cold today. Yesterday it was hot." So, once again, "is" became "was". So what's the pattern here? What do you see? I know you see the pattern, so the pattern is that all of these became "was". So: "I am", "I was"; "He is", "He was"; "She is", "She was"; "It is", "It was", right? So all of these: "am" and "is" become "was" in the past. All right? Let's go to some other pronouns.

"We are studying right now. Yesterday we were working". "We were", make sure you pronounce that properly. A lot of people make a mistake when they say "were". It's not the word "where", like the question. It's "were". Okay? Say it with me: "We were studying." Good. Or, sorry: "We were working." All right. Another example: "You are married today. Yesterday you were single." Okay? Somebody just got married. All right. "They are here right now, but a few hours ago they were over there." Okay? All right. So, what do you see here? Another pattern. Whatever is "are" in the present tense becomes "were" in the past tense, that's all. So there's only two possibilities in the past tense: "was" or "were". Okay?

So, here's a little review: "am" and "is" become "was"; and "are" becomes "were". Now, one last little point: "was" and "were" can be used by themselves. Okay? So this can be a verb used by itself. For example: "It was hot." This is just the verb "to be" by itself, or "was" and "were" can be used as helping verbs. For example: "We were working." Okay? So that's just a little something to keep in mind. Now, next, you'll learn how to use "was" and "were" in English.

Now let's look at how to use "was" and "were" in positive sentences, negative sentences, and also in questions. Okay? So, as you've already learned: "I", "He", "She", and "It" all use "was". Right? "I was at home", "He was at home", "She was at home", "It was at home". "It" can be for a thing, for example, a cellphone. All right? If you want to make that sentence negative, then basically in English what we have to add is the word "not": "I was not", but when we're speaking we don't usually say: "I was not at home." We just say something a little shorter, we say: "I wasn't at home." Do you want to repeat that after me so you can learn how to pronounce it really well? "I wasn't at home." Now, when you're writing it, just remember that the apostrophe goes where we take out the "o". So: "was" and "not", take out the "o" and add the apostrophe, and then you'll not only say it perfectly, you'll also spell it perfectly. Good. So: "I was", "I wasn't". And then to make a question, we just change the order. Same word, right? "Was I at home? I don't remember.", "Was he at school?", "Was she at work?", "Was it on the shelf?" Okay? So you're just changing the order when you make a question, so that's pretty straightforward.

Now let's look at what happens with: "We", "You", and "They". For that we have to use "were". "We were", "You were", "They were". And how do we make it negative? Again, you only add the word "not". […]

[engvidRebecca]

It's so important to master the basics of English. Good for all of you who took the time to master these key points. I wish you much success going forward.

[doantong]

Hi Rebecca, I have recently watched your videos, I founded it was so helpful. Why? I have been living in the United States for 33 years. I never had a chance to be in school. Because I have so many the responsibility, to take care of the people in my family back home in my country. The only resources that I have been learning from friends, watching TV, listen to music, and learning from all the people around me. Especially, reading and writing.

But, every since I found your video on YouTube. I loving it!!! I have been watching you speaking words by words very clearly. I'm so thankful and so grateful for your knowledge and lessons. I would hope your voice, power, and kindness will reach crossed all over the world, especially, the people who are like me to learn from your video.

Again, thank you for everything you do for me and other people are as well. God bless your heart, Rebecca!

[vikkilai]

Best teacher I ever met, very presentable,

use simple words to make people easy to understand the context.
And very systematic in teaching..

[jeanmauraud]

I could not find the perfect word to describe you like a teacher. Even I will find one, it would not be good enough to explain are great you are. Thanks for for your all videos. May God never stop blessing you and your family.

[juanp]

You are the best teacher in youtube. With a great pronunciation and carism. Thank you very much.

[greatlife]

i was just sitting and watching her...then learned more from her lesson. wow!

[bhavanayadav]

Rebecca, the way you try to explain everything is just awesome.. It helped me alot.. Thank you for the lessons..

[jeevankumar]

Hello Rebecca madam thank you so much for your wonderful, delightful English classes, your classes are very useful to us to improve English commutation through correct way of using tenses and everything

[israrafridi]

Thanks a million ma'am .You're the best teacher I've ever seen.The way you teach is also incredible.I've watched almost all videos of yours.I'm looking forward to seeing you with more valuable lessons.

[cecyorozco]

You are an amazing teacher! I really love the way you tough us, always patient, you smiling, give us a good information, easy to understand, the quizzes so helpfull, everything in only one place. I talk to your classes all the time, and I was seeing only a few lessons by the moment. Thanks for everything. I hope you keep doing this.

[theresabennett]

Thank you. I wish these video's were available when I was in school. Blessings!

[Marioma]

Thank you so much! I can understand all your explanations without subtitles, it's great the way you teach English

[ramonmachadosilva]

The way how you explain the content become the things very easy to understand. Thank you so much.

[yeraldinhernandez]

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[dimatihan]

Thank you! It"s cool class! You're the best teacher!

[joaovictorpereirarocha]

Thanks a lot. Finally I got to understand the difference between was and were

[miss_inday]

Im your new subscriber and I learned a lot from your video's ma'am. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and being kind to us, to your free lesson's and teaching. May God bless you and your family.

[ubaldorivera]

Teacher Rebecca, your classes are very important to me, Thank you.

[faridakanda]

Easy to understand and learn. Thank you..

[bertusjohnpaulmandalahi]

Thank you rebecca. you make it easier and simple