Mastering the Simple Past of "To Be": Affirmative Statements (english version)

audio version

He was in the park two days ago.

Introduction:

Hey everyone! In my latest YouTube video, we explored the simple past tense of the verb "to be" for affirmative statements. This is a fundamental tense in English, and getting comfortable with it is a major step towards fluency. Let's recap what we covered!

The Basics

Remember, the simple past tense is used to talk about actions or states that happened in the past and are now finished. The verb "to be" is irregular, meaning it doesn't follow the usual "-ed" pattern for past tense.

Forms of "To Be" in the Simple Past

In the simple past tense, "to be" has two forms: was and were.

• Was is used with singular pronouns (I, he, she, it) and singular nouns.

• Were is used with plural pronouns (we, you, they) and plural nouns.

Examples

• I was at the park yesterday.

• She was happy to see her friend.

• We were at the beach last weekend.

• They were excited about the concert.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Using "was" with plural nouns or pronouns.

• Using "were" with singular nouns or pronouns.

• Forgetting to change "be" to "was" or "were" in the past tense.

Perfect Practice Makes Perfect

The best way to solidify your understanding is through practice! Here are some ideas:

• Write sentences:  Create your own sentences using "was" and "were" in the simple past tense.

• Do some exercises: Find worksheets or online quizzes that focus on the simple past of "to be."

• Watch the video again:  Revisit my YouTube video for a refresher and to hear the pronunciation.

  
  
  
  

Keep Learning!

Mastering the simple past tense of "to be" is a fantastic accomplishment. Keep up the great work, and I'll see you in my next video where we'll explore Negative Statements and Questions Using the Simple Past of the Verb "be"!