Bob is eighty. He’s old and weak. Mary, his wife is seventy-nine. She’s old, too.

Fifty years ago they were young. Bob was strong. He wasn’t weak. Mary was beautiful. She wasn’t old.

The past simple of the verb “to be” is was & were. She It We You They were was

We form questions by putting was/were before the subject pronoun. She was ill yesterday. ( + ) Was she ill yesterday? ( ? ) We form negations by putting not after was/were. She was not ill yesterday. She wasn’t ill yesterday.

We use the past simple for actions which finished at a definite stated time in the past. That is, we know when the action happened. I went to Mersin last summer. My father painted our house yesterday.

They were in Berlin last month. (When? Last month)

He was in hospital two weeks ago. (When? Two weeks ago)

square John John was at the square.

castle Mary and Peter Mary and Peter were at the castle.

palace Jill Jill was at the palace.

souvenir shop George and Mary George and Mary were at the souvenir shop.

museum Nina and Rhonda Nina and Rhonda were at the museum.

1. Were there CDs 100 years ago? No, there weren’t. 2. Were there boats 100 years ago? Yes, there were. 3. Were there helicopters 100 years ago? No, there weren’t.

4. Were there bowls 100 years ago? Yes, there were. 5. Were there videos 100 years ago? No, there weren’t. 6. Were there irons 100 years ago? No, there weren’t.

7. Were there washing machines 100 years ago? No, there weren’t. 8. Were there motorcycles 100 years ago? No, there weren’t. 9. Were there cookers 100 years ago? No, there weren’t.

10. Were there TVs 100 years ago? No, there weren’t. 11. Were there bicycles 100 years ago? Yes, there were. 12. Were there glasses 100 years ago? Yes, there were.

Where / Lyn / last Tuesday / ? Where was Lyn last Tuesday? She was at the supermarket.

Where / children / yesterday afternoon / ? Where were the children yesterday afternoon? They were at the playground.

Where / John / last night / ? Where was John last night? He was at the cinema.

Where / Kevin and Sally / two days ago / ? Where were Kevin and Sally two days ago? They were at the museum.

Where / you and your friends / last Saturday / ? Where were you and your friends last Saturday? We were at a restaurant.

Where / Diane / yesterday / at noon? Where was Diane yesterday at noon? She was at a train station.

Lisa / actress Lisa wasn’t an actress ten years ago. She was a singer.

Betty and Tom / poor Betty and Tom weren’t poor ten years ago. They were rich.

Bob / fat Bob wasn’t fat ten years ago. He was thin.

Tina and Allison / doctors Tina and Allison weren’t doctors ten years ago. They were students.

Ted / in Italy Ted wasn’t in Italy ten years ago. He was in Spain.