Question 1

How do I choose between present and past forms of to be?

Accepted Answer

Look for a time clue first. Words such as "now", "today", and "right now" usually need present forms: "am", "is", or "are". Words such as "yesterday", "last night", "last week", and "ago" usually need past forms: "was" or "were". After you know the time, look at the subject. "I am" becomes "I was" in the past. "She is" becomes "she was". "They are" becomes "they were". Both time and subject matter, so check them in that order before choosing the answer.

Question 2

Why is I was correct but you were correct?

Accepted Answer

In the past, "I", "he", "she", "it", and one person or thing use "was": "I was tired", "She was late", "The room was cold." "You", "we", "they", and more than one person or thing use "were": "You were tired", "We were late", "The rooms were cold." This is different from the present, where "I" uses "am" and "you" uses "are". Remember the past in two groups: "I/he/she/it was" and "you/we/they were" for simple past descriptions about people and places.

Question 3

Can one sentence mix present and past clues?

Accepted Answer

A sentence can include more than one time idea, so read the whole meaning carefully. "I am tired today" is present, but "I was tired yesterday" is past. If a sentence says "The students are in the library right now", choose "are" because the situation is happening now. If it says "The students were in the library last Friday", choose "were" because it refers to the past. When two clues appear, choose the form that matches the main time of the sentence.

Verb To Be - Am, Is, Are, Was, Were Exercises

Quick Rule

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Am, Is, Are - Easy

Am, Is, Are - Intermediate

Negative Forms - Basic

-ed vs -ing Adjectives

Conditionals

Present Perfect