Title: Inter American University of Puerto Rico Guayama Campus
1Inter American University of Puerto RicoGuayama
Campus
- Title V Cooperative Project
- Verb To BE Past Tense Module
- Prof. Marisol Piazza Aguirre
2Instructions
- Use the following buttons to navigate through
this - module
-
- Use this button to move to the
next slide. - Use this button to move to the
previous slide. - Use this button to move to the
last viewed slide. -
- Use this button to view the
answer to the exercise.
3Purpose
- This module proposes to expand the basic
- teaching-learning activities of English included
in - the Title V Cooperative Project Improving
Academic - Outcomes Through a Teaching-Based Consortium
- Program for the Core Curriculum. The project is
- integrated by the Pontifical Catholic University
of Puerto - Rico in Ponce from where it is directed, the
Arecibo, - Mayagüez and Guayama Campuses, the School of
- Plastic Arts of Puerto Rico and Inter American
University - of Puerto Rico, Guayama Campus.
4Introduction
- One of the most important verbs an ESL
- (English as a Second Language) student should
master - to communicate effectively in English orally as
well as in - written form is the Verb To BE in the Past Tense.
- This module has been designed for all
college - students but specially for you students who are
- registered in the basic English as a Second
Language I, - GEEN 1101 course. In this module you will study
and - review the rules of how to use the Verb To BE in
the - Past Tense correctly.
5Objectives
- General Objective
- By the end of this module, the student will
develop confidence - and demonstrate knowledge using the Verb To BE in
the Past Tense - in oral and written form to express state of
being, location, feelings - health, time, weather, and other factual
information in the past. - Specific Objective
- At the end of this module, the student will
learn how to - use affirmative and negative sentences, direct
questions, - short yes/no answers, wh-questions (information
questions) and - answers giving pertinent information using the
Verb To BE in the - Past Tense.
6Pre-Test (Affirmative Sentences)
- Select the best answer.
- __ 1. My family and I ___ in Mexico last summer.
- (A) were (B) are (C)
was -
- __ 2. The office door ___ closed this morning.
- (A) is (B) were (C)
was - __ 3. Teresa ___ absent to work yesterday.
- (A) is (B) was (C)
were - __ 4. We ___ very tired after our long walk in
the country. - (A) are (B) was (C)
were - __ 5. Pedro and Susan ___ at the cinema last
night. - (A) was (B) were (C) are
7Pre-Test (Negative Sentences)
- __ 6. The weather ___ pleasant yesterday. It was
raining all day. - (A) wasnt (B) isnt (C)
werent -
- __ 7. You ___ at the meeting this morning. What
happened? - (A) arent (B) werent (C)
wasnt -
- __ 8. Endangered animals ___ as important many
years ago as - they are today.
- (A) wasnt (B) arent (C)
werent -
- __ 9. E-mail communication ___ common ten years
ago. - (A) arent (B) werent (C)
wasnt -
- __10. I ___ at home this past weekend. I was
visiting my family. - (A) am not (B) wasnt (C)
werent -
-
8Pre-Test (Yes/No Questions)
- __ 11. ___ Kenneth sick two days ago?
- (A) Is (B) Were (C)
Was -
- __ 12. ___ Alex and Joseph on a basketball team
last year? - (A) Were (B) Are (C)
Was - __ 13. ___ your car at the mechanic last week?
- (A) Was (B) Is (C)
Were - __ 14. ___ the Taíno Indians intelligent and
hardworking? - (A) Was (B) Were (C) Are
- __ 15. ___you born in the United States?
- (A) Are (B) Was (C)
Were -
9Pre-Test (Information Questions)
- __ 16. Why ___ the policemen at your house last
night? - (A) was (B) are (C)
were - __ 17. When ___ your grandfather in the US Army?
- (A) were (B) was (C)
is - __ 18. Where ___ the boys last weekend?
- (A) are (B) were (C)
was - __ 19. Who ___ Martin Luther King, Jr.?
- (A) was (B) is
(C) were - __ 20. What ___ your favorite game when you were
a child? - (A) is (B) were
(C) was -
10Pre-Test Answer Key
- 1. A 11. C
- 2. C 12. A
- 3. B 13. A
- 4. C 14. B
- 5. B 15. C
- 6. A 16. C
- 7. B 17. B
- 8. C 18. B
- 9. C 19. A
- 10. B 20. C
11Pre-Test Evaluation
- Total Correct Answers
- 20 Excellent Go to the Post Test.
- 19 Very Good Review the incorrect
answer and go to the - Post Test.
- 18-12 Good Review the incorrect answers,
study the rules - presented in this module, do
the practice exercises - and then go to the Post
Test. - 11 or You Need More Practice Study the
module, review the - less rules carefully and do the
practice exercises. When - you improve your score, you
may go to the Post Test.
12Verb To BE Past Tense
- The Verb To BE is used to express
- state of being? ( I was an excellent student in
high school.) - location ? ( We were in Costa Rica last
summer.) - feelings ? ( The child was sad when he
lost his toy.) - descriptions ? ( The flowers were fresh and
vivid a week ago.) - health ? ( Danny was sick with the
flu last month.) - conditions ? ( The buildings were modern,
now they are old.) - weather ? ( Yesterday was a windy day.)
- time ? ( It was 300 AM when the
party ended.) - nationality ? ( Celia Cruz was a great
Cuban singer.) - colors ? ( My hair was blonde when I
was a child.) - sizes ? ( Ten years ago, I was size
10, now Im size 16.) - dates ? ( Puerto Rico was discovered
on November 19,1493.) - moods ? ( Laura was angry when her
friends played a trick on her.) - prices ? ( Lands and houses were less
expensive ten years ago.) - etc
13Verb To BE Past Tense
- The Verb To BE has two forms in
- the Past Tense
- was
- were
-
14Verb To BE Past Tense
English Spanish
was Singular era, fue estaba,estuvo
were Plural eran, fueron estaban, estuvieron
15Verb To BE Past Tense
SINGULAR
English Spanish
I was yo era / fui yo estaba / estuve
You ( tú/ usted) were tú eras / fuiste usted era / fue tú estabas / estuviste usted estaba / estuvo
He was él era / fue él estaba / estuvo
She was ella era / fue ella estaba / estuvo
It was era / fue estaba / estuvo
16Verb To BE Past Tense
PLURAL
English Spanish
You (ustedes) were ustedes eran / fueron ustedes estaban / estuvieron
We were nosotros(as) eramos / fuimos nosotros(as) estabamos / estuvimos
They were ellos(as) eran / fueron ellos(as) estaban / estuvieron
17Verb To BE Past Tense Time Expressions
this morning
yesterday ? morning ? afternoon ? evening ? night
the day before yesterday (antier)
? last night (anoche) ? last Monday (el lunes pasado) ? last week (la semana pasada) ? last weekend ? last month ? last May ? last year ? last semester ? last summer ? last Christmas
18Verb To BE Past Tense Time Expressions
? five seconds ago (hace 5 segundos) ? ten minutes ago (hace 10 minutos) ? two hours ago ? two days ago ? four weeks ago ? two weekends ago ? one month ago ? two summers ago ? two Christmas seasons ago ? a few years ago ? many years ago ? five years ago ? a little while ago ? in 1990
19Verb To BE Past Tense Affirmative Sentences
Singular Singular Singular
SUBJECT BE
I was at the office yesterday.
You (tú/usted) were at the office yesterday.
He She It was at the office yesterday.
20Verb To BE Past Tense Affirmative Sentences
Plural Plural Plural
SUBJECT BE
You (ustedes) were at the office yesterday.
We were at the office yesterday.
They were at the office yesterday.
21Affirmative Sentences
- More Examples
- 1. Mary was nine years old when she moved to
the USA. - 2. We were at the airport yesterday
morning. - 3. Last summer, Fred and Gina were in
Italy. - 4. The concert was cancelled because of bad
weather. - 5. The phone was busy when I called you
last night. - 6. The children were sick last week.
- 7. I was very shy when I was a teenager.
- 8. Record players were popular thirty years
ago. - 9. My dog was trained to protect the house.
- 10. Years ago, carbon and wood were used for
cooking.
22Verb To BE Past Tense Negative Sentences
Singular Singular Singular Singular
SUBJECT BE NOT
I was not at the office yesterday.
You (tú/usted) were not at the office yesterday.
He was not at the office yesterday.
She was not at the office yesterday.
It was not at the office yesterday.
23Verb To BE Past Tense Negative Sentences
Plural Plural Plural Plural
SUBECT BE NOT
You (ustedes) were not at the office yesterday.
We were not at the office yesterday.
They were not at the office yesterday.
24Negative Sentences
- More Examples
- 1. Mary was not nine years old when she
moved to the USA, - she was five.
- 2. We were not at the airport yesterday
morning. - 3. Last Summer, Fred and Gina were not in
Italy. - 4. The concert was not cancelled because of
bad weather. - 5. The phone was not in service when I
called you last night. - 6. The children were not sick last week.
- 7. I was not very talkative when I was a
teenager. - 8. CD players were not popular thirty years
ago. - 9. My dog was not trained to save lives.
- 10. Years ago, stoves were not used for
cooking because they - werent invented.
25Verb To BE Contractions in the Past Tense
- Contractions A contraction is the combination
- of two words into one. In contractions, letters
are - replaced with an apostrophe ().
26Verb To BE Contractions in the Past Tense
- Important
- You cannot make contractions in
- Affirmative Sentences in the Past Tense,
- but you can make contractions in Negative
- Sentences.
27Language Notes
- We cannot make a contraction with the
- subject pronoun was or were.
- Examples
- No Contraction? He was at the Mall
yesterday. - No Contraction? They were silent during
class. - We cannot make a contraction with
- there was or there were.
- Examples
- No Contraction? There was a fire in the
store last month. - No Contraction? There were two great
movies on TV last night.
28Language Notes
- We can make a contraction with the negative form
- of was and were.
- Examples
- (1) I was not a hyperactive child. (was
not) - I wasnt a hyperactive child.
(contraction? wasnt) - (2) We were not nervous at the job
interview. (were not) - We werent nervous at the job
interview. (contraction? werent) -
-
-
29Verb To BE Contractions in Negative Sentences
Complete Form Contraction
I was not I wasnt
You (tú/usted) were not You werent
He was not He wasnt
She was not She wasnt
It was not It wasnt
You (ustedes) were not You werent
We were not We werent
They were not They werent
30Verb To BE Contractions in Negative Sentences
- 1. I was not nervous on the first day of
class. - 2. You (usted) were not well dressed for the
job interview yesterday. - 3. Janet was not in the same school as her
brother last year. - 4. Joseph was not ready for his oral report
last Tuesday.
- 1. I wasnt nervous on the first day of
class. - 2. You werent well dressed
- for the job interview yesterday.
- 3. Janet wasnt in the same school as her
brother last year. - 4. Joseph wasnt ready for his oral report
last Tuesday.
31Verb To BE Contractions in Negative Sentences
- 5. The Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) in the
university was not in service yesterday
afternoon. - 6. You (ustedes) were not in the library when
I went by this morning. - 7. Ralph and I were not satisfied with the
final decision. - 8. The exercises in the last English lesson
were not difficult.
- 5. The Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) in the
university wasnt in service yesterday afternoon.
- 6. You werent in the
- library when I went by
- this morning.
- 7. Ralph and I werent satisfied
- with the final decision.
- 8. The exercises in the last
- English lesson werent difficult.
32Verb To BE Yes / No Questions
BE (Question Word) SUBJECT
Was I at the office yesterday?
Were you (tú/usted) at the office yesterday?
Was he she it at the office yesterday?
Were you (ustedes) we they at the office yesterday?
33Verb To BE Yes / No Short Answers
Short Answers Short Answers
Affirmative Negative
Yes, you were. No, you were not. / No, you werent.
Yes, I was. No, I was not. / No, I wasnt.
Yes, he was. No, he was not. / No, he wasnt.
Yes, she was. No, she was not. / No, she wasnt.
Yes, it was. No, it was not. / No, it wasnt.
Yes, we were. No, we were not. / No, we werent.
Yes, you were. No, you were not. / No, you werent.
Yes, they were. No, they were not, / No, they werent.
34Yes/No Questions and Short Answers
- More Examples
- 1. Were you (tú/usted) upset after waiting
several hours for the doctor? - Yes, I was. / No, I was not. / No, I
wasnt. - 2. Was the strange looking man near the
bank at noon? - Yes, he was. / No, he was not. / No, he
wasnt. - 3. Were all the jeans on sale at JC Penny
last weekend? - Yes, they were. / No, they were not. /
No, they werent. - 4. Was the food ready when the guests
arrived to the cocktail? - Yes, it was. / No, it was not. / No, it
wasnt. -
35Yes/No Questions and Short Answers
-
- 5. Was Frida Kahlo a Mexican painter?
- Yes, she was. / No, she was not. / No,
she wasnt. -
- 6. Were you and your friends at the Luis
Fonsi concert last Friday? - Yes, we were. / No, we were not. / No,
we werent. -
- 7. Was I on the Student Nominee List for a
scholarship? - Yes, you were. / No, you were not. /
No, you werent. -
- 8. Were Jerry and Diana responsible
students in high school? - Yes, they were. / No, they were not. /
No, they werent.
36Wh-Questions (Information Questions)
Question Word Questions Answers
Who (person) Who was the first woman pilot? Amelia Earhart was the first woman pilot.
What (thing) What were yesterdays workshops about? They were about new computer software and programs .
When (time) When was the flight to Boston cancelled? It was cancelled fifteen minutes ago.
Why (reason) Why were the children sad at the park? They were sad because it was time to leave.
Where (place) Where were David and Elaine last night? They were at the gym.
How (description/health) How was your day at work this morning? It was very busy but interesting.
Whose (possession) Whose historical house was this years ago? It was poet Luis Palés Matos house.
37Wh-Questions (Information Questions)
- More Examples
- 1. (Q) When was Daniel promoted to sales
manager? - (A) He was promoted last month.
-
- 2. (Q) Where were you and your friends last
Saturday? - (A) We were in Old San Juan taking photos
for our History - class.
- 3. (Q) Who were you with at the jazz festival?
- (A) I was with my nephews and nieces.
-
38Wh-Questions (Information Questions)
- 4. (Q) How was the English exam yesterday?
- (A) It was easy but too long.
- 5. (Q) Why were the airports in Chicago and New
York closed last - week?
- (A) They were closed because of the snow
storms and the terrible - weather.
- 6. (Q) What was the problem with your car?
- (A) It was a problem with the air
conditioning system.
39Practice Exercises (Affirmative Sentences)
- Select the best answer.
- __ 1. Francine and Jacob ___ in Italy last
Christmas. - (A) are (B) were (C) was
- __ 2. My mother ___ a model when she was young.
- (A) were (B) is (C) was
- __ 3. We ___ very busy at home this past weekend.
- (A) were (B) was (C) are
- __ 4. Our dog ___ at the veterinarian yesterday
afternoon. - (A) was (B) is (C) were
- __ 5. Many homes ___ destroyed when the hurricane
passed through the city. - (A) are (B) was (C) were
40Practice Exercises (Negative Sentences)
- __ 6. Cell phones ____ invented when my parents
were teenagers. - (A) arent (B) werent (C)
wasnt - __ 7. The hotel we stayed in ____ near public
transportation. - (A) isnt (B) wasnt (C)
werent - __ 8. Mr. Huertas ____ alone when the accident
occurred. - (A) isnt (B) arent
(C) wasnt - __ 9. Years ago, women ____ permitted to vote
until the 1950s. - (A) werent (B) wasnt (C)
arent - __10. The Internet service ____ available last
night. - (A) wasnt (B) isnt (C)
arent
41Practice Exercises (Yes/No Questions)
- __ 11. ____ the certified letter received on
time? - (A) Is (B) Was (C)
Were - __ 12. ____ the toll way costs in Puerto Rico
raised last year? - (A) Were (B) Are (C)
Was - __ 13. ____ your first grade teacher nice?
- (A) Is (B) Was (C)
Were -
- __ 14. ____ your old friends in the past class
reunion? - (A) Was (B) Are (C)
Were - __ 15. ____ a college education difficult to
obtain fifty years ago? - (A) Were (B) Is (C)
Was
42Practice Exercises (Information Questions)
- __ 16. A How ____ your past weekend? B It
was wonderful. - (A) were (B) is
(C) was - __ 17. A What ____ the conference about ? B
It was about Studying Habits. - (A) is (B) was
(C) were - __ 18. A Where ____ the criminals captured?
B They were captured in the park. - (A) are (B) were
(C) was - __ 19. A Who ____ Elvis Presley? B He was
the king of Rock and Roll. - (A) was (B) is
(C) are - __ 20. A Why ____ Paul and Patricia in trouble
with the police? - B They were in trouble because they
didnt have a drivers license. - (A) are (B) were
(C) was
43Practice Exercise Answer Key
- B 11. B
- C 12. A
- A 13. B
- A 14. C
- C 15. C
- B 16. C
- B 17. B
- C 18. B
- A 19. A
- A 20. B
44Practice Exercise Evaluation
- Total Correct Answers
- 20 Excellent Go to the Post Test.
- 19 Very Good Review the incorrect
answer and go to the - Post Test.
- 18-12 Good Review the incorrect answers,
consult the module - again and then go to the
Post Test. - 11 or You Need More Practice Study the
module, review the - less rules carefully and do the
practice exercises again. - When you understand the
rules and improve your - score, you may go to the
Post Test.
45Post Test (Affirmative Sentences)
- Select the best answer.
- __ 1. My family and I ___ in Mexico last summer.
- (A) were (B) are (C)
was -
- __ 2. The office door ___ closed this morning.
- (A) is (B) were (C)
was - __ 3. Teresa ___ absent to work yesterday.
- (A) is (B) was (C)
were - __ 4. We ___ very tired after our long walk in
the country. - (A) are (B) was (C)
were - __ 5. Pedro and Susan ___ at the cinema last
night. - (A) was (B) were (C) are
46Post Test (Negative Sentences)
- __ 6. The weather ___ pleasant yesterday. It was
raining all day. - (A) wasnt (B) isnt (C)
werent -
- __ 7. You ___ at the meeting this morning. What
happened? - (A) arent (B) werent (C)
wasnt -
- __ 8. Endangered animals ___ as important many
years ago as they are - today.
- (A) wasnt (B) arent (C)
werent -
- __ 9. E-mail communication ___ common ten years
ago. - (A) arent (B) werent (C)
wasnt -
- __10. I ___ at home this past weekend. I was
visiting my family. - (A) am not (B) wasnt (C)
werent -
-
47Post Test (Yes/No Questions)
- __ 11. ___ Kenneth sick two days ago?
- (A) Is (B) Were (C)
Was -
- __ 12. ___ Alex and Joseph on a basketball team
last year? - (A) Were (B) Are (C)
Was - __ 13. ___ your car at the mechanic last week?
- (A) Was (B) Is (C)
Were - __ 14. ___ the Taíno Indians intelligent and
hardworking? - (A) Was (B) Were (C) Are
- __ 15. ___you born in the United States?
- (A) Are (B) Was (C)
Were -
48Post Test (Information Questions)
- __ 16. Why ___ the policemen at your house last
night? - (A) was (B) are (C)
were - __ 17. When ___ your grandfather in the US Army?
- (A) were (B) was (C)
is - __ 18. Where ___ the boys last weekend?
- (A) are (B) were (C)
was - __ 19. Who ___ Martin Luther King Jr.?
- (A) was (B) is
(C) were - __ 20. What ___ your favorite game when you were
a child? - (A) is (B) were
(C) was -
49Post Test Answer Key
- 1. A 11. C
- 2. C 12. A
- 3. B 13. A
- 4. C 14. B
- 5. B 15. C
- 6. A 16. C
- 7. B 17. B
- 8. C 18. B
- 9. C 19. A
- 10. B 20. C
50Post Test Evaluation
- Total Correct Answers
- 20 Excellent Congratulations! You
have successfully - completed this module. You
may work with a different - module if necessary.
- 19 Very Good Review the incorrect
answer. You may work - with a different module if
necessary. - 18-12 Good Review the incorrect answers,
review the areas of - difficulty and take the Post
Test again. - 11 or You Need More Practice I recommend
that you review - less the complete module and take the
Post Test again.
51Letter to the Student
- Congratulations ! You have completed the
module - Verb BE in the Past Tense. If you really
understand all - of the rules and examples presented, you can work
with - a different module depending on your needs.
However, - if you still have some questions concerning the
rules, I - advise you to review this module again or visit
the - Language Laboratory, Room B-6 and ask for help
before - studying a different module.
- Remember you learn by practicing, therefore
use the - Verb To BE in the Past Tense in your daily
conversations - and written work.