Was or Were - English Grammar Worksheet

Level: A1-BeginnerLanguage: English (en)Country: BulgariaSchool subject: ESLTopic: GrammarCreated by: El-Arbi Ameur

Understanding "Was" and "Were"

In English grammar, "was" and "were" are both past tense forms of the verb "to be." Knowing when to use "was" versus "were" is essential for proper sentence construction. This worksheet provides comprehensive explanations, examples, and interactive exercises to help you master the correct usage of these important verbs.

When to Use "Was"

"Was" is used with singular subjects (I, he, she, it) in the past tense:

• I was at the park yesterday.
• She was happy to see her friend.
• It was raining all morning.

When to Use "Were"

"Were" is used with plural subjects (we, you, they) in the past tense:

• We were late for the meeting.
• You were very helpful.
• They were excited about the trip.

Quick Tip

Remember: "You" always takes "were" even when referring to one person ("You were great!"). This is because historically "you" was always plural.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Many English learners struggle with these common errors when using "was" and "were":

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
I were at home.	I was at home.	"I" is singular and requires "was"
They was playing.	They were playing.	"They" is plural and requires "were"
You was right.	You were right.	"You" always takes "were"
We was hungry.	We were hungry.	"We" is plural and requires "were"

Special Cases

There are some special cases where the rules differ:

Subjunctive Mood

In hypothetical or wishful situations (subjunctive mood), "were" is used with singular subjects:

• If I were rich... (not "If I was rich...")
• I wish she were here. (not "I wish she was here.")

Practice Exercises

Test your understanding with these interactive exercises. Select the correct answer and check your responses.

Exercise 1: Choose "was" or "were"

She ___ very tired after work yesterday.

was

were

They ___ excited about their vacation last summer.

was

were

You ___ very helpful when I needed assistance.

was

were

The weather ___ beautiful yesterday.

was

were

My friends and I ___ at the cinema last night.

was

were

If I ___ you, I would accept the job offer.

was

were

There ___ many people at the concert.

was

were

The book you lent me ___ very interesting.

was

were

We ___ surprised by the test results.

was

were

He ___ the best student in our class last year.

was

were

The children ___ playing in the park.

was

were

I wish it ___ summer now.

was

were

Additional Practice

Fill in the blanks with "was" or "were" in the following sentences:

1. The movie ___ too long and boring. 

2. My parents ___ very strict when I ___ a child.  and 

3. There ___ a strange noise coming from the basement. 

4. If she ___ taller, she could reach the top shelf. 

5. The instructions ___ not clear enough.