English grammar
Was, were, there was
Describe how things were.
From the scene I was tired
In short
Use was with I, he, she, it and were with you, we, they. Say there was or there were for what existed.
- I / he / she / it was
- you / we / they were
- one thing existed there was
- more than one existed there were
Your turn
Which one goes with you / we / they?
Options: were · was · there was
Show answer
you / we / they → were
How it works
To describe how things were, use was with I / he / she / it and were with you / we / they.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
(blank) the new bar downstairs.
Clue: saying what the noise was
Options: It were · There were · It was
Show answer
It was the new bar downstairs.
Era el bar nuevo de abajo.
Good to know
To say something existed, use there was (one thing, or noise, music) and there were (more than one: there were people).
I / he / she / it was
Nuria
Sorry, Doña Elena. I was very tired.
Perdone, Doña Elena. Estaba muy cansada.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Sorry, Doña Elena. I (blank) very tired.
Options: was · were · there was
Show answer
Nuria
Sorry, Doña Elena. I was very tired.
Perdone, Doña Elena. Estaba muy cansada.
you / we / they were
Nuria
There were people everywhere and the music was very loud.
Había gente por todas partes y la música estaba muy alta.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
There (blank) people everywhere and the music was very loud.
Options: were · there was
Show answer
Nuria
There were people everywhere and the music was very loud.
Había gente por todas partes y la música estaba muy alta.
one thing existed there was
Nuria
There was so much noise in the street.
Había mucho ruido en la calle.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) so much noise in the street.
Options: There was · Were · There were
Show answer
Nuria
There was so much noise in the street.
Había mucho ruido en la calle.
more than one existed there were
Nuria
There were people everywhere and the music was very loud.
Había gente por todas partes y la música estaba muy alta.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) people everywhere and the music was very loud.
Options: There were · There was
Show answer
Nuria
There were people everywhere and the music was very loud.
Había gente por todas partes y la música estaba muy alta.
Common mistake
Not were or am here. I, last night.
Sorry, Doña Elena. I was very tired.
Perdone, Doña Elena. Estaba muy cansada.
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
| I / he / she / it | was |
|---|---|
| you / we / they | were |
| one thing existed | there was |
| more than one existed | there were |
More lines from the story
- NuriaIt was the new bar downstairs.Era el bar nuevo de abajo.
- ElenaI was awake watching from the window.Yo estaba despierta mirando por la ventana.
- ElenaHow come? What was going on?¿Y eso? ¿Qué pasaba?