Colorful English worksheet helping students practice the past tense forms of 'to be' through various exercises.

Task: Solve the "Was or Were" worksheet and explain the solution.

#### Section 1: Underline the correct verb

The task is to choose between was and were based on the subject of the sentence. The rule is:
- Use was with singular subjects.
- Use were with plural subjects.

Let's solve each sentence:

1. They was/were in the Natural History Museum yesterday.
- Subject: They (plural)
- Correct: were
- Sentence: They were in the Natural History Museum yesterday.

2. Nick was/were taken to the hospital early in the morning yesterday.
- Subject: Nick (singular)
- Correct: was
- Sentence: Nick was taken to the hospital early in the morning yesterday.

3. My parents was/were very tired after their trip to Newcastle.
- Subject: My parents (plural)
- Correct: were
- Sentence: My parents were very tired after their trip to Newcastle.

4. Helen was/were on a ferry boat going to Sweden yesterday.
- Subject: Helen (singular)
- Correct: was
- Sentence: Helen was on a ferry boat going to Sweden yesterday.

5. The article in the local newspaper was/were very interesting.
- Subject: The article (singular)
- Correct: was
- Sentence: The article in the local newspaper was very interesting.

6. Those houses was/were built two hundred years ago.
- Subject: Those houses (plural)
- Correct: were
- Sentence: Those houses were built two hundred years ago.

7. Last winter was/were the coldest winter in our region.
- Subject: Last winter (singular)
- Correct: was
- Sentence: Last winter was the coldest winter in our region.

8. Tom was/were absent-minded because he had left the keys at school.
- Subject: Tom (singular)
- Correct: was
- Sentence: Tom was absent-minded because he had left the keys at school.

9. I was/were on a long trip to the USA two years ago.
- Subject: I (singular)
- Correct: was
- Sentence: I was on a long trip to the USA two years ago.

10. Your e-mail address was/were very difficult to remember.
- Subject: Your e-mail address (singular)
- Correct: was
- Sentence: Your e-mail address was very difficult to remember.

11. My brother’s letters was/were rather long and interesting.
- Subject: My brother’s letters (plural)
- Correct: were
- Sentence: My brother’s letters were rather long and interesting.

12. Pamela was/were an excellent ski jumper three years ago.
- Subject: Pamela (singular)
- Correct: was
- Sentence: Pamela was an excellent ski jumper three years ago.

---

#### Section 2: Fill in was or were

The task is to fill in the blanks with either was or were based on the subject of the sentence.

1. Who ______ the best football player in Great Britain last year?
- Subject: Who (singular, referring to one person)
- Correct: was
- Sentence: Who was the best football player in Great Britain last year?

2. They ______ very happy after their trip to London last month.
- Subject: They (plural)
- Correct: were
- Sentence: They were very happy after their trip to London last month.

3. Andrew ______ the best student in our class last year.
- Subject: Andrew (singular)
- Correct: was
- Sentence: Andrew was the best student in our class last year.

4. The film ______ not interesting and I switched off the TV.
- Subject: The film (singular)
- Correct: was
- Sentence: The film was not interesting and I switched off the TV.

5. The mathematics test ______ very difficult and we ______ disappointed.
- Subject 1: The mathematics test (singular) → was
- Subject 2: we (plural) → were
- Sentence: The mathematics test was very difficult and we were disappointed.

6. The boys ______ very noisy at the lesson yesterday.
- Subject: The boys (plural)
- Correct: were
- Sentence: The boys were very noisy at the lesson yesterday.

7. Who ______ the best sportsman in your class last month?
- Subject: Who (singular, referring to one person)
- Correct: was
- Sentence: Who was the best sportsman in your class last month?

8. Martha ______ in Cambridge with her parents two years ago.
- Subject: Martha (singular)
- Correct: was
- Sentence: Martha was in Cambridge with her parents two years ago.

9. The girls ______ in the disco club two weeks ago.
- Subject: The girls (plural)
- Correct: were
- Sentence: The girls were in the disco club two weeks ago.

10. I ______ responsible for the classroom flowers last year.
- Subject: I (singular)
- Correct: was
- Sentence: I was responsible for the classroom flowers last year.

11. There ______ many flowers in the flowerbeds around the school.
- Subject: many flowers (plural)
- Correct: were
- Sentence: There were many flowers in the flowerbeds around the school.

12. Five birds ______ sitting on the branches of the tree near the house.
- Subject: Five birds (plural)
- Correct: were
- Sentence: Five birds were sitting on the branches of the tree near the house.

---

#### Section 3: Rewrite the sentences using was or were

The task is to rewrite the sentences using was or were instead of the present tense verbs.

1. I am happy to see you.
- Present tense: am
- Past tense: was
- Sentence: I was happy to see you.

2. This is my favourite book.
- Present tense: is
- Past tense: was
- Sentence: This was my favourite book.

3. Mary is not at school.
- Present tense: is
- Past tense: was
- Sentence: Mary was not at school.

4. It is a very interesting film.
- Present tense: is
- Past tense: was
- Sentence: It was a very interesting film.

5. We are good sportsmen.
- Present tense: are
- Past tense: were
- Sentence: We were good sportsmen.

6. Tom is my best friend.
- Present tense: is
- Past tense: was
- Sentence: Tom was my best friend.

7. Nora is on holidays in Italy.
- Present tense: is
- Past tense: was
- Sentence: Nora was on holidays in Italy.

8. The dogs are under the table.
- Present tense: are
- Past tense: were
- Sentence: The dogs were under the table.

9. My mobile is broken.
- Present tense: is
- Past tense: was
- Sentence: My mobile was broken.

10. They are good students.
- Present tense: are
- Past tense: were
- Sentence: They were good students.

11. This dog is very friendly.
- Present tense: is
- Past tense: was
- Sentence: This dog was very friendly.

12. I am at the shopping centre.
- Present tense: am
- Past tense: was
- Sentence: I was at the shopping centre.

---

Final Answer:

Boxed Final Answer:
\boxed{
\begin{array}{l}
\text{1. They } \underline{\text{were}} \text{ in the Natural History Museum yesterday.} \\
\text{2. Nick } \underline{\text{was}} \text{ taken to the hospital early in the morning yesterday.} \\
\text{3. My parents } \underline{\text{were}} \text{ very tired after their trip to Newcastle.} \\
\text{4. Helen } \underline{\text{was}} \text{ on a ferry boat going to Sweden yesterday.} \\
\text{5. The article in the local newspaper } \underline{\text{was}} \text{ very interesting.} \\
\text{6. Those houses } \underline{\text{were}} \text{ built two hundred years ago.} \\
\text{7. Last winter } \underline{\text{was}} \text{ the coldest winter in our region.} \\
\text{8. Tom } \underline{\text{was}} \text{ absent-minded because he had left the keys at school.} \\
\text{9. I } \underline{\text{was}} \text{ on a long trip to the USA two years ago.} \\
\text{10. Your e-mail address } \underline{\text{was}} \text{ very difficult to remember.} \\
\text{11. My brother’s letters } \underline{\text{were}} \text{ rather long and interesting.} \\
\text{12. Pamela } \underline{\text{was}} \text{ an excellent ski jumper three years ago.} \\
\end{array}
}
\boxed{
\begin{array}{l}
\text{1. Who } \underline{\text{was}} \text{ the best football player in Great Britain last year?} \\
\text{2. They } \underline{\text{were}} \text{ very happy after their trip to London last month.} \\
\text{3. Andrew } \underline{\text{was}} \text{ the best student in our class last year.} \\
\text{4. The film } \underline{\text{was}} \text{ not interesting and I switched off the TV.} \\
\text{5. The mathematics test } \underline{\text{was}} \text{ very difficult and we } \underline{\text{were}} \text{ disappointed.} \\
\text{6. The boys } \underline{\text{were}} \text{ very noisy at the lesson yesterday.} \\
\text{7. Who } \underline{\text{was}} \text{ the best sportsman in your class last month?} \\
\text{8. Martha } \underline{\text{was}} \text{ in Cambridge with her parents two years ago.} \\
\text{9. The girls } \underline{\text{were}} \text{ in the disco club two weeks ago.} \\
\text{10. I } \underline{\text{was}} \text{ responsible for the classroom flowers last year.} \\
\text{11. There } \underline{\text{were}} \text{ many flowers in the flowerbeds around the school.} \\
\text{12. Five birds } \underline{\text{were}} \text{ sitting on the branches of the tree near the house.} \\
\end{array}
}
\boxed{
\begin{array}{l}
\text{1. I } \underline{\text{was}} \text{ happy to see you.} \\
\text{2. This } \underline{\text{was}} \text{ my favourite book.} \\
\text{3. Mary } \underline{\text{was not}} \text{ at school.} \\
\text{4. It } \underline{\text{was}} \text{ a very interesting film.} \\
\text{5. We } \underline{\text{were}} \text{ good sportsmen.} \\
\text{6. Tom } \underline{\text{was}} \text{ my best friend.} \\
\text{7. Nora } \underline{\text{was}} \text{ on holidays in Italy.} \\
\text{8. The dogs } \underline{\text{were}} \text{ under the table.} \\
\text{9. My mobile } \underline{\text{was}} \text{ broken.} \\
\text{10. They } \underline{\text{were}} \text{ good students.} \\
\text{11. This dog } \underline{\text{was}} \text{ very friendly.} \\
\text{12. I } \underline{\text{was}} \text{ at the shopping centre.} \\
\end{array}
}
Final Answer Boxed: \boxed{\text{See above for detailed solutions.}}