Verb To Be - Negative Forms Advanced Exercises

Negative forms of to be can refer to the present or the past. In the present, use am not, isn't, or aren't: "I am not interested", "She isn't happy", "The shops aren't open." In the past, use wasn't with I, he, she, it, and singular nouns. Use weren't with you, we, they, and plural nouns.

Time words help you decide. Right now, today, and at the moment usually need present negatives: "The weather isn't good at the moment." Yesterday, last Monday, and last week usually need past negatives: "He wasn't in the office last week." Some phrases, such as this morning, can mean present or past depending on the time of speaking, so use the context. The subject decides between wasn't and weren't: "The test wasn't easy", but "The students weren't quiet." These choices are especially useful in stories about school, travel, work, and recent events, especially when a sentence contrasts past and present facts.