Patina · Grammar

I Am  ·  I Was

now  ·  before

You know am, is and are. Today the same verb goes back in time: was and were. The sentences do not change. Only the small word does, and a time word at the end says when.

★ now and before  ·  ★★ how to build it, then the time words  ·  ★★ then and now  ·  ★★★ choose the form, ask and answer, fix it

Download the PDF PDF · 5 pages

For the teacher · In class

stage the two cards and read card one, then card two. Ask "What changed?" and let the room find the small word. For Then and now, say a name — "Luis!" — and the class answers with both sentences. For Choose the form, everyone types the small word in the chat, then the whole sentence.

Unit 16 teacher's key (PDF)

★ I am. I was.

Two cards. The same sentences, now and before. Only the small word changes.

Now

now

am / is / are + a job

Before

before

was / were + a job

Say a before a job. Your language has no word there.

You will say this at your citizenship interview. Fill it with a place or a year.

Watch out in your language

★★ How to build it

Start with the subject. Then choose was or were.

was / were  +  a job  ·  a word  ·  a place

Start with the subject. I, he, she and it take was. Everyone else takes were.

full formshort form
I wasn't
You weren't
He/She/It wasn't
We weren't
They weren't

Add not. The short forms are wasn't and weren't.

★★ When?

These words say the time. Put one at the end of the sentence.

  • yesterday
  • last night
  • last week
  • last month
  • last year
  • in 2019
  • from 2019 to 2022
  • ★★★ two years ago

Say last night. Not yesterday night.

Say last week. Not the last week.

★★ Then and now

Four people from Job Words. Read the job now, then the job before.

★★★ Choose the form

Look at the subject and the last words. Type am, is, are, was, or were. Then put the whole sentence in the chat.

amisarewaswere

  1. 1She a nurse last year.
  2. 2I a student now.
  3. 3They at work yesterday.
  4. 4We tired now.
  5. 5He a cook in 2020.
  6. 6It cold last night.
  7. 7You in class last week.
  8. 8You my teacher now.

★★★ Ask, then answer

Watch the verb move. In a question it jumps to the front. In the answer it comes back.

The answer repeats was or were. Never use did with this verb.

★★★ Make it a question

Make it a question. Move the verb to the front and type the whole question.

  1. 1He was a driver.
  2. 2They were at school.
  3. 3You were tired.

★★★ Fix the sentence

Each sentence is broken in one place. Keep every word and change only what is broken.

  1. 1I was cook.Say a before a job.
  2. 2She were a nurse.With she, say was.
  3. 3We was tired last night.With we, say were.
  4. 4I was a cashier the last year.No the before last.
  5. 5They were tired yesterday night.Say last night.
  6. 6Did you was a cook?Not did. This verb asks with were.

For the teacher · Answer key

Choose the form: 1 was  ·  2 am  ·  3 were  ·  4 are  ·  5 was  ·  6 was  ·  7 were  ·  8 are.    Make it a question: Was he a driver?  ·  Were they at school?  ·  Were you tired?    Fix the sentence: I was a cook.  ·  She was a nurse.  ·  We were tired last night.  ·  I was a cashier last year.  ·  They were tired last night.  ·  Were you a cook?