English grammar
It was ten o'clock — always 'it was'
Give the time something happened in the past.
From the scene It was twelve o'clock
In short
Clock time in the past always uses it was, whatever the hour: it was eleven, it was one o'clock.
Your turn
Which one goes with one o'clock?
Options: it was almost three · it was one o'clock · it was ten at night (NOT "they were ten")
Show answer
one o'clock → it was one o'clock
How it works
Clock time in the past always uses it was, whatever the hour: it was ten o'clock, it was one o'clock.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
I went straight home. (blank) almost eleven.
Options: It was · They were · It were
Show answer
I went straight home. It was almost eleven.
Fui derecho a casa. Eran casi las once.
Good to know
The verb doesn't change for bigger numbers. Say it was eleven, NOT "they were eleven" or "it were eleven".
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Everyone? Not me. (blank) one and I was still awake.
Options: It was · It were · There was
Show answer
Everyone? Not me. It was one and I was still awake.
¿Todo el mundo? Yo no. Era la una y no dormía.
any hour: it was it was ten at night (NOT "they were ten")
Tomás
It was ten at night when I closed.
Eran las diez de la noche cuando cerré.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) when I closed.
Options: It was ten at night · It was one o'clock · It was almost three
Show answer
Tomás
It was ten at night when I closed.
Eran las diez de la noche cuando cerré.
one o'clock it was one o'clock
Your turn
What goes with it was one o'clock?
Options: one o'clock · any hour: it was · nearly the hour
Show answer
it was one o'clock → one o'clock
nearly the hour it was almost three
Elena
I didn't fall asleep. It was almost three and I saw something strange.
No me dormí. Eran casi las tres y vi algo raro.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
I didn't fall asleep. (blank) and I saw something strange.
Options: It was almost three · It was ten at night · It was one o'clock
Show answer
Elena
I didn't fall asleep. It was almost three and I saw something strange.
No me dormí. Eran casi las tres y vi algo raro.
twelve at night midnight
Elena
And at midnight? Where were you?
¿Y a medianoche? ¿Dónde estabas?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
And at (blank)? Where were you?
Options: it was ten at night · it was one o'clock · midnight
Show answer
Elena
And at midnight? Where were you?
¿Y a medianoche? ¿Dónde estabas?
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| any hour: it was | it was ten at night (NOT "they were ten") |
|---|---|
| one o'clock | it was one o'clock |
| nearly the hour | it was almost three |
| twelve at night | midnight |
More lines from the story
- TomásI went straight home. It was almost eleven.Fui derecho a casa. Eran casi las once.
- ElenaEveryone? Not me. It was one and I was still awake.¿Todo el mundo? Yo no. Era la una y no dormía.
- ElenaTomás, what time did you close your stall last night?Tomás, ¿a qué hora cerraste el puesto anoche?