Question 1

How do I make past negative sentences with to be?

Accepted Answer

Use "wasn't" with "I", "he", "she", "it", and one person or thing: "I wasn't well", "The food wasn't good." Use "weren't" with "you", "we", "they", and plural nouns: "You weren't late", "They weren't at work." Full forms are also correct: "was not" and "were not". Look for past clues such as "yesterday", "last night", "on Saturday", or another finished time. Then match the subject to "wasn't" or "weren't" before completing the sentence carefully in the short context you read today.

Question 2

How do I choose between past negatives and past questions?

Accepted Answer

Put "Was" or "Were" before the subject. Use "Was" with "I", "he", "she", "it", and one person or thing: "Was she happy?", "Was the food good?" Use "Were" with "you", "we", "they", and plural nouns: "Were you at the cinema?", "Were the shops open?" You do not need "did" in questions with "was" or "were". The verb moves before the subject by itself, just like present questions with "am", "is", and "are" in simple questions about people and places too.

Question 3

What are negative questions with wasn't and weren't?

Accepted Answer

Negative past questions begin with "Wasn't" or "Weren't". Use "Wasn't" with one person or thing: "Wasn't he at work yesterday?", "Wasn't the test easy?" Use "Weren't" with "you", "we", "they", and plural nouns: "Weren't you at the meeting?", "Weren't the tickets expensive?" These questions often show surprise or ask for confirmation. The subject rule is the same as in normal past questions. One person or thing takes "was"; more than one, or "you", takes "were" in standard English questions clearly.

Verb To Be Past Negative and Questions Exercises

Quick Rule

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Am, Is, Are - Easy

Am, Is, Are - Intermediate

Am, Is, Are, Was, Were

-ed vs -ing Adjectives

Conditionals

Present Perfect