Was and Were
100% Original Practice Test
Remember the people, places and weather at a village kite festival last Saturday. Study the guide, practise 44 questions, then use what you know in four short speaking tasks.
Your Quick Grammar Guide
Think about the past situation and the subject. Use was or were to say where people and things were, how they felt, and what the weather was like at the village kite festival last Saturday.
1. How to Form It
Was
Use was with I, he, she, it and one person or thing.
Positive: subject + was
Example: The kite was high above the field.
Negative: subject + was not / wasn’t
Example: The wind was not strong. (It wasn’t strong.)
Question: Was + subject …?
Example: Was the music loud?
Short answers: Yes, it was. / No, it wasn’t.
Were
Use were with you, we, they and plural subjects.
Positive: subject + were
Example: The children were near the red tent.
Negative: subject + were not / weren’t
Example: We were not late. (We weren’t late.)
Question: Were + subject …?
Example: Were the flags dry?
Short answers: Yes, they were. / No, they weren’t.
There was / There were
Say what existed or was present. Negative: There was not a cafe. / There were not any chairs. The short forms are wasn’t and weren’t. Choose by the thing after there: There was a stage. / There were three stalls.
For questions, say Was there a stage? and Were there three stalls?
2. Clue Words & Patterns
Past-time clues
yesterdaylast Saturdayat elevenafter the rain
Last Saturday, Ella was at the green. The time phrase places the visit in the past; the singular subject takes was.
Look at the subject
I / one person / one thing: wasyou / we / they: wereplural noun: were
The twins were by the stage, but the little dog was under a bench. The subjects decide the form.
Past be and present be
Today: The field is dry. Last Saturday: The field was wet.
Today: The children are at school. Last Saturday: The children were at the festival.
At eleven can refer to the past or future: The music was loud at eleven yesterday. / The music will start at eleven tomorrow. Read the whole context. In past descriptions, check the subject too: You were is correct even for one person.
3. Watch Out & Common Mistakes
Do not use did with was or were
Was and were make their own negatives and questions. Say Was the tent open? and The tent wasn’t open. Do not add did to these be forms.
1. Singular subject with were
WrongThe prize were small.
BetterThe prize was small.
Reason: One prize is singular, so use was.2. Plural subject with was
WrongMy cousins was there.
BetterMy cousins were there.
Reason: Cousins means more than one person, so use were.3. Agreement in a question
WrongWere the kite high?
BetterWere the kites high?
Reason: The plural subject kites takes were; keep the noun plural when asking about several kites.4. Using did with be
WrongDid the band was loud?
BetterWas the band loud?
Reason: Was makes the question by itself; do not add did.Quick check: choose before opening
1. Last Sunday, I was / were at the park.
was – use was with I in the past.
2. Was / Were there two red kites?
Were – two red kites is plural, so ask Were there …?
3. Did / Was the picnic fun?
Was – be makes its own question. Do not use did with was.
Before you answer: Is the situation in the past? Who or what is the subject? Is it one or more than one?
Speaking: make it personal
Listen to each model, repeat it, then change the details to tell your own story. Speaking practice is for self-assessment and adds no points to the 44-question test.
Practice 1
Say where you were at the village kite festival and how you felt.
Read the model
I was on the village green, and I was excited.
Practice 2
Ask whether the weather was cold, give a short answer, then add a detail.
Read the model
Was the weather cold? No, it was not. It was warm.
Practice 3
Describe two things you saw near the stage.
Read the model
There were two music groups near the stage.
Practice 4
Ask whether there were many stalls, then give a short answer.
Read the model
Were there many stalls? Yes, there were.
Ready to check your work?
Submit to grade your whole test, OR use 👁 Show Answer per part / per question.
Learning review: what can you do now?
Can you match was or were to the subject? Can you describe a past place or feeling, make a negative, ask a question and give a matching short answer? Can you use there was and there were?