To be simple past tense (was, were)

Simple past tense digunakan untuk fakta-fakta dan peristiwa-peristiwa yang terjadi di masa lampau. Contoh:

I was with my grandmother yesterday. They were at home last week.

Kata kerja to be untuk simple past tense adalah bentuk lampau dari to be am, is, are, yakni sebagai berikut. Tunggal I was You were He was She was It was Beberapa contoh kalimat simple past tense dengan kata kerja to be:

Jamak We were You were They were

I was happy yesterday We were teachers for 20 years There was a lot of rain yesterday

Kalimat-kalimat simple past tense selalu terkait dengan waktu tertentu yang dinyatakan atau tidak dinyatakan. Contoh:

I was really busy yesterday. (Waktu dalam kalimat ini dinyatakan) I was really busy. (Waktu dalam kalimat ini tidak dinyatakan, tetapi dalam sebuah percakapan waktu yang dimaksud dapat dimengerti).

To be negatif Kalimat negatif simple past tense dibuat dengan menambahkan not setelah kata kerja to be. Contoh:

It was not sunny yesterday They were not in the library

Kita sering menyingkat to be negatif khususnya dalam bahasa lisan:

She was not hungry -> She wasnt hungry They were not abroad last year -> They werent abroad last year.

To be bertanya Pertanyaan dibuat dengan menukar posisi subjek dan kata kerja to be. Contoh:

He was a teacher Was he a teacher? We were happy to see your family. Were you happy to see my family?