Was / Were (A1)

Dùng was với 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.". Với I, dạng quá khứ là was, không phải were.
Thử ngay: Last weekend the market ___ very busy. (was / were / is) Đáp án: was — The market = it, nên đi với was, không phải were. ("Is" là hiện tại, còn "last weekend" cho biết câu ở quá khứ.) Vậy nên: the market was busy.

Dùng were với you, we, và they.

You were late.
We were happy.
They were at school.
Not "They was at school." — say "They were at school.". Với they, dùng were; was chỉ dành cho I, he, she, it.
Thử ngay: Last weekend, Amina and Hiroshi ___ at Magaff Library. (were / was / are) Đáp án: were — Amina and Hiroshi = they, nên dạng đúng là were, không phải was: They were at Magaff Library.

Trước mỗi câu, hãy tự hỏi: ai? 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.". Người đó là ai sẽ quyết định: was cho I/he/she/it, were cho you/we/they.
Thử ngay: Mei: Was everyone at the park on Saturday? Lars: No. I ___ there, but my friends ___ at the gym! Hoàn thành câu nói của Lars. (was … were / were … was / was … was) Đáp án: was … were — Lars nói I → was. His friends = they → were. Ai làm chủ ngữ sẽ quyết định từng câu.

Thêm not vào sau was hoặc 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.". not đứng sau was, không đứng trước.
Thử ngay: She ___ at home last night. (wasn't / weren't / not was) Đáp án: wasn't — She đi với was, nên dạng phủ định là wasn't (không phải weren't), và not đứng sau: She wasn't at home.

Để hỏi, đặt Was hoặc Were trước chủ ngữ.

Was she at home?
Were you late?
Was it cold?
Not "You were late? (asking)" — say "Were you late?". Trong câu hỏi, were đứng trước, rồi mới đến người.
Thử ngay: Camila: The children are inside now, and they look very cold. Hiroshi: ___ outside all morning? Hoàn thành câu hỏi của Hiroshi. (Were they / They were / They was) Đáp án: Were they — Khi hỏi, Were đứng đầu và người được nói đến đứng sau. Một đáp án đặt người lên trước, đó là cách KỂ cho ai đó biết một điều, không phải cách hỏi. Đáp án còn lại dùng was, vốn dành cho I, he, she, it, không phải they.
Thử ngay: Remember: who is it? Mei ___ at the cooking class. (was / were / are) Đáp án: was — Mei = she → was. (Đây là quy tắc cốt lõi: I/he/she/it → was, you/we/they → were.)

Sai	Đúng	Vì sao
I were at home.	I was at home.	Với I, dạng quá khứ là was, không phải were.
They was at school.	They were at school.	Với they, dùng were; was chỉ dành cho I, he, she, it.
He were here. / They was here.	He was here. / They were here.	Người đó là ai sẽ quyết định: was cho I/he/she/it, were cho you/we/they.
I not was hungry.	I wasn't hungry.	not đứng sau was, không đứng trước.
You were late? (asking)	Were you late?	Trong câu hỏi, were đứng trước, rồi mới đến người.