German grammar
War, es gab, konnte
Describe how things were.
From the scene Ich war müde (I was tired)
In short
For how things were, use the one-word past of a few common verbs: war, es gab, konnte.
Your turn
Which one goes with it was full?
Options: ich war müde · es gab viel Lärm · sie war voll
Show answer
it was full → sie war voll
How it works
To describe how things were, German uses the simple past (a one-word past form) of a few very common verbs, even when chatting.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Entschuldigung, Frau Elena. Ich (blank) sehr müde.
Clue: I was
Options: hatte · war · bin
Show answer
Entschuldigung, Frau Elena. Ich war sehr müde.
Sorry, Frau Elena. I was very tired.
Good to know
War (was), es gab (there was / there were), konnte (could). Ich war müde = I was tired.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Das (blank) die neue Bar unten.
Clue: it was
Options: war · ist · gab
Show answer
Das war die neue Bar unten.
It was the new bar downstairs.
I was tired ich war müde
it was full sie war voll
Your turn
What goes with sie war voll?
Options: there was a lot of noise · it was full · I was tired
Show answer
sie war voll → it was full
there was a lot of noise es gab viel Lärm
Nuria
Es gab viel Lärm auf der Straße.
There was a lot of noise in the street.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) auf der Straße.
Options: Sie war voll · Es gab viel Lärm · Ich war müde
Show answer
Nuria
Es gab viel Lärm auf der Straße.
There was a lot of noise in the street.
I couldn't sleep ich konnte nicht schlafen
Your turn
What goes with ich konnte nicht schlafen?
Options: it was full · I couldn't sleep · I was tired
Show answer
ich konnte nicht schlafen → I couldn't sleep
Common mistake
Not ist or gab here. What was going on.
Wieso? Was war los?
How come? What was going on?
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 was tired | ich war müde |
|---|---|
| it was full | sie war voll |
| there was a lot of noise | es gab viel Lärm |
| I couldn't sleep | ich konnte nicht schlafen |
More lines from the story
- NuriaEntschuldigung, Frau Elena. Ich war sehr müde.Sorry, Frau Elena. I was very tired.
- ElenaWieso? Was war los?How come? What was going on?
- NuriaDas war die neue Bar unten.It was the new bar downstairs.
- ElenaIch war wach und habe aus dem Fenster geschaut.I was awake watching from the window.
- ElenaSchatz, ich habe gestern Abend geklopft und du hast nicht aufgemacht.Dear, I knocked last night and you didn't answer.