Was / Were (A1)

Bei I, he, she, it nimmst du was.

I / he / she / it: was

I was at home.
He was tired.
It was cold.
Not "I were at home." — say "I was at home.". Bei I lautet die Vergangenheitsform was, nicht were.
Probier es aus: Last weekend the market ___ very busy. (was / were / is) Antwort: was — The market = it, und zu it gehört was, nicht were. („Is“ ist Gegenwart; „last weekend“ zeigt, dass es um die Vergangenheit geht.) Also: the market was busy.

Bei you, we und they nimmst du were.

You were late.
We were happy.
They were at school.
Not "They was at school." — say "They were at school.". Bei they nimmst du were – was gibt es nur bei I, he, she, it.
Probier es aus: Last weekend, Amina and Hiroshi ___ at Magaff Library. (were / was / are) Antwort: were — Amina and Hiroshi = they, die richtige Form ist also were, nicht was: They were at Magaff Library.

Frag dich vor jedem Satz: Wer? I/he/she/it → was. you/we/they → were.

He was here. / They were here.
I was tired. / We were tired.
Not "He were here. / They was here." — say "He was here. / They were here.". Wer es ist, entscheidet: was für I/he/she/it, were für you/we/they.
Probier es aus: Mei: Was everyone at the park on Saturday? Lars: No. I ___ there, but my friends ___ at the gym! Ergänze, was Lars sagt. (was … were / were … was / was … was) Antwort: was … were — Lars sagt I → was. His friends = they → were. Die Person entscheidet jedes Mal.

Hänge not an was oder were an: wasn't (I/he/she/it), weren't (you/we/they).

I wasn't hungry.
He wasn't there.
They weren't happy.
Not "I not was hungry." — say "I wasn't hungry.". Das not kommt hinter was, nicht davor.
Probier es aus: She ___ at home last night. (wasn't / weren't / not was) Antwort: wasn't — Zu she gehört was, die Verneinung lautet also wasn't (nicht weren't), und das not steht dahinter: She wasn't at home.

Für eine Frage stellst du Was oder Were vor die Person.

Was she at home?
Were you late?
Was it cold?
Not "You were late? (asking)" — say "Were you late?". In einer Frage kommt were zuerst, dann die Person.
Probier es aus: Camila: The children are inside now, and they look very cold. Hiroshi: ___ outside all morning? Ergänze, was Hiroshi fragt. (Were they / They were / They was) Antwort: Were they — Für eine Frage kommt Were zuerst, danach die Personen. Eine Antwort stellt die Personen an den Anfang – so ERZÄHLST du jemandem etwas, so fragst du nicht. Die andere nimmt was, und das gibt es nur für I, he, she, it, nicht für they.
Probier es aus: Remember: who is it? Mei ___ at the cooking class. (was / were / are) Antwort: was — Mei = she → was. (Das ist die Grundregel: I/he/she/it → was, you/we/they → were.)

Falsch	Richtig	Warum
I were at home.	I was at home.	Bei I lautet die Vergangenheitsform was, nicht were.
They was at school.	They were at school.	Bei they nimmst du were – was gibt es nur bei I, he, she, it.
He were here. / They was here.	He was here. / They were here.	Wer es ist, entscheidet: was für I/he/she/it, were für you/we/they.
I not was hungry.	I wasn't hungry.	Das not kommt hinter was, nicht davor.
You were late? (asking)	Were you late?	In einer Frage kommt were zuerst, dann die Person.