ESL

1. BE – SIMPLE PAST
TENSEVERB
Writing Class

2. Be – simple past verb use
• In the past, BE has two forms: was and were:
I, he, she, it was
you, we, they were

3. Be – simple past verb use
• We use BE with adjectives, nouns, and locations.
Subject + BE + Adjective
I was happy yesterday.
It was nice last summer.

4. Be – simple past verb use
• We use BE with adjectives, nouns, and locations.
Subject + BE + Noun
It was a big house.
We were children.

5. Be – simple past verb use
• We use BE with adjectives, nouns, and locations.
Subject + BE + Location
My favorite restaurant was on 7th Street.
It was next to the river.

6. Be – simple past verb use
• The verb BE is different from other verbs.
• It’s easier to make negative sentences and questions.

7. Be – simple past verb use
• Negative sentences with BE
• No helping verb (did)
• Subject + BE + NOT
They were not in town.
Sally was not late.
• Short forms = wasn’t and weren’t
Mark and I weren’t downtown.

8. Be – simple past verb use
• With questions, we just change the word order.
• Statement: Subject + BE … .
I was busy last night.
She was in class.
The movie was interesting.
• Question: BE + Subject … ?
Were you busy last night?
Was she in class?
Was the movie interesting?