FOCUS 1: 5.5 past simple: was / were / could

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 1

was / were/could

 was / were

I was

he / she / it was

We were

They were

You were (plural and singular are both "were")

When to use was/were/could?

We use it when we talk about something that 

happened in the past. 

Was and were are the past tenses for "to be" 

[I am, you are, he/she/it is, we/you/they are]

When to use was/were/could?

Could is the past of "can".

I can understand Maths now.

I couldn't understand it when I was younger.  

was/were 

negative and question

I wasn't , you weren't, he wasn't, we weren't, they weren't

Was I?  Were you? Was he? Were we? Were they?

Mike ....... alone. His sister was also at home.

1. was
2. wasn't
3. were
4. weren't

We .... at school yesterday

1. was
2. wasn't
3. were
4. weren't

I was home late, so my parents ..... very angry with me.

1. was
2. wasn't
3. were
4. weren't

I .... speak French very well, but that ...... interesting too!

1. couldn't/was
2. couldn't/were
3. couldn't/could
4. were/was

...... you play a music instrument when you........ younger?

1. was/were
2. were/could
3. couldn't/were
4. could/were

My little sister ..... nice when she was young. She used to bully me.

1. was
2. wasn't
3. were
4. weren't

I .... very hungry when I came home. Luckily there was pizza!

1. was
2. were
3. wasn't
4. weren't

Is there something that is not clear yet? Please, write it down.