The verb to be changes depending on who or what you are talking about. In the present: I am, he is, she is, it is, we are, you are, they are.
In the past: I was, he was, she was, it was, we were, you were, they were. A common mistake is “we was”. In Standard English we say “we were”.
Always find the subject first: who or what is the sentence about? Then choose the verb that matches.
Worked example
Choose: “The children ___ playing football.” (was / were)
- The subject is the children: more than one.
- More than one in the past takes were.
Answer:The children were playing football.
Key words
- subject
- who or what the sentence is about
- agree
- match correctly
- Standard English
- the form of English used in school and formal writing
Practise this
New questions every time.
Common Core-referenced: L.2.1