Past simple of be – A2 English Grammar Test

1  Complete the sentences with was, wasn’t, were or weren’t.

1   I ……wasn’t…… at school yesterday. It was a holiday.

2   We ……………… happy at the party. It was fun.

3   You ……………… at home. You were at the park.

4   How many people ……………… at the cinema?

5   ……………… your brother at the match yesterday?

2  Put the words in order to make sentences.

1   at / afternoon / was / yesterday / I / the / park

      ……I was at the park yesterday afternoon. ……

2   It / a / classical / wasn’t / great / concert / music

      …………………………………………………. .

3   barbecue / at / friends / the / My / were / happy

      …………………………………………………. .

4   yesterday / pop / at / Daniela / wasn’t / gig / the

      …………………………………………………. .

5   the / late / match / You / were / for / tennis

      …………………………………………………. .

3  Complete the sentences and questions with the beginnings from the box.

1   ……Were you nervous…… before the competition?

2   ………………………. Jackie at school yesterday?

3   ………………………. happy with our test marks.

4   ………………………. sunny in the park.

5   ………………………. the school lunch horrible?

4  Read the answers and complete the questions.

1   ……Where were you…… last weekend?

      We were in the mountains last weekend.

2   ………………………………… at school?

      Yes, he was a brilliant student at school.

3    ………………………………… when you …………………………………?

      No, I wasn’t happy when I was young.

4   What time …………………………………?

      The concert was at seven o’clock

5   ………………………………… a lot of people at the party?

      Yes, there were a lot of people at the party.

5  Complete the conversations with the past tense of the verb to be.

1   A: Where were you last Saturday?

      B: I ……was…… at the cinema with my friends.

2   A: Were you nervous before the football game?

      B: No, we ……………… .

3   A: ……………… John at the party?

      B: I don’t know.

4   A: We ……………… at a good restaurant last week.

      B: The new one in the centre? I know, it’s great!

5   A: Was the concert OK?

      B: Yes, great! The singer ……………… awesome!

6  Find and correct the mistakes in the sentences.

1   Were you happy when you were young? Yes I wasn’t.

      ……Were you happy when you were young? Yes, I was. ……

2   Was John at school yesterday? No, he was.

      …………………………………………………..

3   Paula is here last weekend.

      …………………………………………………..

4   Where was you last night?

      …………………………………………………..

5   Who is with you at the park yesterday?

      …………………………………………………..

6   They wasn’t worried about the exam.

      …………………………………………………..

7  Complete Clara’s email with one word in each space.

Hi Lydia!

How 1……are…… you? Last weekend was great! I 2……………... happy because it was my birthday. I 3……………... usually at home in the evening but last weekend I 4……………... at home. I was at a party! I was surprised with my present. It was a beautiful guitar. All my friends 5……………... at the party and there was very good hip-hop music so we 6……………... bored. I always love 7……………... birthday parties.

Love, Clara