Was / Were (A1)

Usa was con I, he, she, it.

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.". Con I, la forma de pasado es was, no were.
Pruébalo: Last weekend the market ___ very busy. (was / were / is) Respuesta: was — The market = it, por eso lleva was, no were. ("Is" es presente, y "last weekend" te dice que es pasado.) Así que: the market was busy.

Usa were con you, we, y they.

You were late.
We were happy.
They were at school.
Not "They was at school." — say "They were at school.". Con they, usa were; was es solo para I, he, she, it.
Pruébalo: Last weekend, Amina and Hiroshi ___ at Magaff Library. (were / was / are) Respuesta: were — Amina and Hiroshi = they, así que la forma es were, no was: They were at Magaff Library.

Antes de cada uno, pregúntate: ¿quién? 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.". Quién es decide: was para I/he/she/it, were para you/we/they.
Pruébalo: Mei: Was everyone at the park on Saturday? Lars: No. I ___ there, but my friends ___ at the gym! Completa lo que dice Lars. (was … were / were … was / was … was) Respuesta: was … were — Lars dice I → was. His friends = they → were. El sujeto decide la forma en cada caso.

Añade not después de was o were: 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.". El not va después de was, no antes.
Pruébalo: She ___ at home last night. (wasn't / weren't / not was) Respuesta: wasn't — She lleva was, así que el negativo es wasn't (no weren't), y not va después: She wasn't at home.

Para preguntar, pon Was o Were antes de la persona.

Was she at home?
Were you late?
Was it cold?
Not "You were late? (asking)" — say "Were you late?". En una pregunta, were va primero y después la persona.
Pruébalo: Camila: The children are inside now, and they look very cold. Hiroshi: ___ outside all morning? Completa lo que pregunta Hiroshi. (Were they / They were / They was) Respuesta: Were they — Para preguntar, Were va primero y las personas van después. Una respuesta pone primero a las personas, y así es como le CUENTAS algo a alguien, no como preguntas. La otra usa was, que es para I, he, she, it, no para they.
Pruébalo: Remember: who is it? Mei ___ at the cooking class. (was / were / are) Respuesta: was — Mei = she → was. (Esta es la elección clave: I/he/she/it → was, you/we/they → were.)

Incorrecto	Correcto	Por qué
I were at home.	I was at home.	Con I, la forma de pasado es was, no were.
They was at school.	They were at school.	Con they, usa were; was es solo para I, he, she, it.
He were here. / They was here.	He was here. / They were here.	Quién es decide: was para I/he/she/it, were para you/we/they.
I not was hungry.	I wasn't hungry.	El not va después de was, no antes.
You were late? (asking)	Were you late?	En una pregunta, were va primero y después la persona.