English grammar
Was, had, wore — describing the past
Describe what someone looked like in old photos.
From the scene Photos from when she was little
In short
Describe an old photo with the past simple: I had curly hair, I wore glasses, I was shy.
Your turn
Which one goes with glasses: wear → wore?
Options: I had curly hair (not "I was curly hair") · what were you wearing? · I wore glasses (not "carried" / "weared")
Show answer
glasses: wear → wore → I wore glasses (not "carried" / "weared")
How it works
To describe an old photo, use the past simple: I had curly hair, I wore glasses, I was shy.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Yes. I (blank) very curly hair.
Options: was having · had · have
Show answer
Yes. I had very curly hair.
Sí. Tenía el pelo muy rizado.
Good to know
For hair, use have: "I had curly hair", not "I was curly hair". Glasses and clothes take wear → wore, never "carry" or "weared".
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
No! I (blank) just very shy.
Options: was · were · used to
Show answer
No! I was just very shy.
¡No! Era muy tímida, nada más.
hair: have → had I had curly hair (not "I was curly hair")
glasses: wear → wore I wore glasses (not "carried" / "weared")
Nuria
I wore glasses from the age of five.
Llevaba gafas desde los cinco años.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) from the age of five.
Options: What were you wearing · I wore glasses · I had curly hair
Show answer
Nuria
I wore glasses from the age of five.
Llevaba gafas desde los cinco años.
clothes at that moment what were you wearing?
character: be → was I was very shy
Your turn
What goes with I was very shy?
Options: hair: have → had · glasses: wear → wore · character: be → was
Show answer
I was very shy → character: be → was
Common mistake
Not was or did here. Be in the past; the subject is you.
You were a very serious little girl.
Eras una niña muy seria.
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
| hair: have → had | I had curly hair (not "I was curly hair") |
|---|---|
| glasses: wear → wore | I wore glasses (not "carried" / "weared") |
| clothes at that moment | what were you wearing? |
| character: be → was | I was very shy |
More lines from the story
- NuriaYes. I had very curly hair.Sí. Tenía el pelo muy rizado.
- JaviYou were a very serious little girl.Eras una niña muy seria.
- NuriaNo! I was just very shy.¡No! Era muy tímida, nada más.
- NuriaIt was my witch costume.Era mi disfraz de bruja.
- JaviOh... I thought that was your hair!Ah... ¡yo pensaba que era tu pelo!