English Language

In this lesson of learning English as a Second Language, we shall learn:

• How to use Verb to be in Past Time.
• Structure of Verb to be in Past Time.
• Short Replies

 

  Video Tutorial in English

Video Tutorial in Urdu

In this lesson , I will not be explaining verb to be, rather comparing Verb to be in Present Time and Past Time. If you don't know what Verb to be is, please visit  Unit 1: Verb to be  on my website and then come to this unit.

As you already know that Verb to be  shows existence or state of any thing / any person.

e.g. I am happy    (no action)   

      She is a doctor.    (no action)
 

Verb to be does not show any action. Verb to be changes according to Time .

In Present Time  Verb to be    -------->     is , am , are

In Past Time  Verb to be         -------->     was , were

In Future Time Verb to be       -------->    will be

So , if you want to talk about existence, state or simply what something / someone in Past Time , you should use Was / Were.

e.g. When I was a child , I was very active.

       My mother was an officer in a bank.

       I was ill yesterday.

Singular Noun and Plural Noun:

Was is used with singular nouns and Were is used with plural nouns.

e.g.    A bird was on the tree.

          The boys were very intelligent.

Was / Were with Pronouns:

I                                                            We

He                           WAS                     You (singular)               WERE

She                                                        You (plural)

It                                                            They

 

Comparing Verb to be in Present Time and Past Time

Present Time	Past Time
I am ill today	I was ill yesterday
Aslam is not at home today.	Aslam was not at home yesterday
I am busy today	I was busy yesterday.

Structure of Verb to be in Past Time

AFFIRMATIVE

Subject    +    Was/Were    +    Complement.

     I                was                   happy yesterday

We             were                 children

                          

   NEGATIVE

Subject     +    Was/Were    +    not    +    Complement

   I                     was                not           happy yesterday

          We                 were                not           sick yesterday         

 Contraction with NOT:  was +  not   = wasn't

                                      were + not   =  weren't

           INTERROGATIVE

Was/Were    +    Subject    +    Complement?

    Were                you               happy yesterday?

    Was                   he                 sick yesterday?

 

Short Replies:

Were you absent from school yesterday?        Yes, I was.

Was he at the library?                                     No , he wasn't.

Were they busy yesterday?                             Yes , they were.

Were  they in the class last Thursday?             No , they weren't.

Time Expressions in Present and Past
 

Today                         Yesterday

This morning                yesterday morning

this afternoon               yesterday afternoon

tonight                         last night

this week                     last week

Oral Exercise : Change the sentences to the Past.

e.g. Aslam is sick today   ----------------------->   Aslam was sick yesterday.

 

Exercise 1 : Complete the following sentences using wasn't or weren't. Use a past time expression.

1. Aslam is here today, but  he wasn't here yesterday.

2. I'm at home tonight, but

3. Raheel is busy today, but 

4. We're in class this morning, but 

5. Tom is at the library tonight, but 

6. It's cold this week, but 

7. Ali and Sara are at work this afternoon, but 

8. Mr. and Mrs. Saleem are at home tonight, but 

9. You're in class today, but 

10. Mr. James is in his office this afternoon, but 

 

Exercise 2 : Make questions and give short answers.

        1.    (you \ at home \ last night)

                A: Were you at home last night?

                B: No,  I wasn't.

        2.    ( Mr. Aslam \ absent from office \ yesterday)

                A:    

                B:     Yes,

        3.    (Arsalan and Sana \ at party\ last night) 

                A: 

                B: No,

        4.    (he \ nervous \ the first day of class)

                A: 

                B:  No,

        5.     (Ahmed \ at the library \ last Monday)

                A: 

                B: Yes,

        6.    (you and your wife \ in UAE \ last year)

                A: 

                B:  No,

                A:  Where 

                B:  In Ireland.

        7.    (Anita \ in class \ today)

                A: 

                B:  No, . She's absent.

        8.     (you \ hungry \ right now)

                A:

                B: No, ,but I am thirsty.

        9.    (the weather \ hot in Karachi \ last summer)

                A: 

                B:  Yes, . It was very hot.

        10.    (the students in this class \ intelligent)

                A: 

                B:  Of course, ! They are very intelligent.