English for Beginners: "TO BE" in Past Tense

Hello. Sorry. I am really thirsty. Well, I was thirsty, but now I'm okay. Today, I'm

Hola. Lo siento. Tengo mucha sed. Bueno, tenía sed, pero ahora estoy bien. Hoy,

going to teach you about probably the most famous verb ever. Yes, the verb "to be". I

voy a enseñarte sobre probablemente el verbo más famoso de la historia. Sí, el verbo "ser".

know you hate it. I know you've studied the verb "to be" forever, but we have to look

Sé que lo odias. Sé que has estudiado el verbo "to be" desde siempre, pero tenemos que mirar

at the past tense of the verb "to be" because we use it a lot in the past, and you have

el tiempo pasado del verbo "to be" porque lo usamos mucho en el pasado, y tienes que

to make sure that when you're speaking English, you can use the past tense as well as the

asegurarte de que cuando re hablando inglés, puedes usar el tiempo pasado así como el

present tense because it's very important.

tiempo presente porque es muy importante.

So let's look at the structure of the verb "to be" in the past. There are two different

Entonces, veamos la estructura del verbo "to be" en el pasado. Hay dos

forms that you have to remember, so be careful with this one. If we use "I", it's "me", "he",

formas diferentes que debes recordar, así que ten cuidado con esta. Si usamos "yo", es "yo", "él",

"she", or "it". Now, remember, "it" can be a singular object like a water bottle, or

"ella" o "eso". Ahora, recuerda, "eso" puede ser un objeto singular como una botella de agua, o

it can also be an animal. We have to use the verb "was". So, the past tense of the verb

también puede ser un animal. Tenemos que usar el verbo "was". Entonces, el tiempo pasado del verbo

"to be" with "I", "he", "she", and "it", we have to use "was". So, I can say, "I was

"to be" con "I", "he", "she" y "it", tenemos que usar "was". Entonces, puedo decir: "Tenía

thirsty". "Thirsty" means I need to drink. If we use "you", "they", or "we", we have

sed". "Sediento" significa que necesito beber. Si usamos "usted", "ellos" o "nosotros", tenemos

to change it to "were". So, we have to say, for example, "You were thirsty." Okay? "I

que cambiarlo a "eran". Entonces, tenemos que decir, por ejemplo, "Tenías sed". ¿Bueno? "Yo

was thirsty, but you were thirsty." This is where it gets a little bit difficult to remember,

tenía sed, pero tú tenías sed". Aquí es donde se vuelve un poco difícil de recordar, ¿

okay?

de acuerdo?

Let's go through the examples. So, I can say, when I use the simple past, I can say, for

Vayamos a través de los ejemplos. Entonces, puedo decir, cuando uso el pasado simple, puedo decir, por

example, "I was tired." "Tired" means you need to sleep. "He was sad. She was funny."

ejemplo, "Estaba cansado". "Cansado" significa que necesitas dormir. "Él estaba triste. Ella era graciosa".

Now, be careful, because the word "funny", a lot of people can get mixed up in English.

Ahora, ojo, porque la palabra "funny", mucha gente se puede confundir en inglés.

"Funny" means something that makes you laugh, and the word that people get mixed up with

"Gracioso" significa algo que te hace reír, y la palabra con la que la gente se confunde

is "fun". Now, if I say, "She was fun", that's okay, but it's a different meaning. "Fun"

es "diversión". Ahora, si digo, "Ella fue divertida", está bien, pero tiene un significado diferente. "Diversión"

means like, "Whoa, I'm having a good time." So, "funny" means it makes you laugh, and

significa algo así como, "Vaya, me lo estoy pasando bien". Entonces, "gracioso" significa que te hace reír, y

"fun" means, "Whoa, look at my water. It's so fun." "It was good." So, let's go through

"divertido" significa, "Vaya, mira mi agua. Es muy divertida". "Estuvo bien." Por lo tanto, vamos a ir a través de

the examples. It's your turn. So, you say, "I was tired." Good. Perfect. "He was sad.

los ejemplos. Es tu turno. Así que dices: "Estaba cansado". Bien. Perfecto. "Él estaba triste.

She was funny. It was good." We also have to know the negative, because maybe it wasn't

Ella era graciosa. Fue bueno". También tenemos que saber lo negativo, porque quizás no fue

good. So, you have to know how to make the negative for this. So, when we make the negative,

bueno. Entonces, tienes que saber cómo hacer el negativo para esto. Entonces, cuando hacemos la negativa,

we're just going to put "not", but in a fast, natural English, we don't usually say, "She

solo vamos a poner "not", pero en un inglés rápido y natural, por lo general no decimos, "She

was not tired." We say, "She wasn't tired." So, let's make these words - let's make these

was not cansada". Decimos: "Ella no estaba cansada". Entonces, hagamos estas palabras, hagamos que estas

sentences negative. In the positive, I say, "I was tired." If we make it negative, all

oraciones sean negativas. En lo positivo, digo: "Estaba cansado". Si lo hacemos negativo, lo único que

we're going to do is put "nt", "nt", and say, "I wasn't tired." What about this one? "He

vamos a hacer es poner "nt", "nt" y decir "I didn't cansed". ¿Qué hay de este? "Él

wasn't sad." So, again, I can write "wasn't" here. What about this one? You do this, "She

no estaba triste". Entonces, de nuevo, puedo escribir "no era" aquí. ¿Qué hay de este? Haces esto, "Ella

wasn't funny." Good. "She wasn't funny." "She was boring." Oh my god, she wasn't funny.

no era graciosa". Bien. "Ella no era graciosa". "Ella era aburrida". Dios mío, ella no era graciosa.

And try this one. "It" in the negative, "wasn't good." "It wasn't good." Perfect. So, oh,

Y prueba este. "Eso" en negativo, "no era bueno". "No estuvo bien". Perfecto. Entonces, oh, ¿

you know what, Ronnie? It wasn't good.

sabes qué, Ronnie? no fue bueno

Okay. Let's do some examples using the other part of the verb. So, again, we have "you",

Bueno. Hagamos algunos ejemplos usando la otra parte del verbo. Entonces, nuevamente, tenemos "usted",

"they", and "we". We're going to use "were". And if we use the negative, we're going to

"ellos" y "nosotros". Vamos a usar "eran". Y si usamos el negativo, vamos a

use "weren't". And, of course, we have to use the adjective again. So, let's go through

usar "weron't". Y, por supuesto, tenemos que volver a usar el adjetivo. Entonces, veamos

some examples. "You were" -- oh, this thirsty -- I don't drink my marker. Oh, Ronnie, you

algunos ejemplos. "Tu estabas" - oh, esta sed - No bebo mi marcador. Oh, Ronnie,

were thirsty. Yes, I was. "They were bad." "We were angry." "Angry" and "mad" is the

tenías sed. Sí, lo estaba. "Eran malos". "Estábamos enojados". "Enojado" y "loco" es lo

same thing. If you're angry or mad, it's not really a good emotion. Again, these are all

mismo. Si estás enojado o enojado, no es realmente una buena emoción. Nuevamente, todos estos son

adjectives, so let's make these positive sentences into a negative sentence. Let's see if you

adjetivos, así que hagamos de estas oraciones positivas una oración negativa. Veamos si

can do it. So, for example, "You were thirsty" is going to become "You weren't thirsty."

puedes hacerlo. Entonces, por ejemplo, "Tenías sed" se convertirá en "No tenías sed".

Good. "Hey, you weren't thirsty." The next one, "They were bad" -- in the negative, we're

Bien. "Oye, no tenías sed". El siguiente , "Eran malos" -- en negativo, vamos

going to say "They weren't" plus our adjective "bad". Good. Good, bad. They weren't good

a decir "No eran" más nuestro adjetivo " malos". Bien. Bueno malo. No eran buenos

or bad. And "We were angry" -- can you make that sentence negative? "We weren't angry."

ni malos. Y "Estábamos enojados", ¿puedes hacer que esa oración sea negativa? "No estábamos enojados".

Perfect. Yahoo. So, we've done the positive and the negative, but you cannot forget the

Perfecto. Yahoo. Entonces, hemos hecho lo positivo y lo negativo, pero no puedes olvidar la

question because a lot of the times in English, we learn the positive and the negative, and

pregunta porque muchas veces en inglés aprendemos lo positivo y lo negativo, y

then in conversation, when you're talking to someone, you want to ask them a question,

luego en una conversación, cuando estás hablando con alguien, quieres para hacerles una pregunta,

but you don't know how. No fear. Let's go. When we ask a question -- let's say I want

pero no sabes cómo. Sin miedo. Vamos. Cuando hacemos una pregunta, digamos que quiero

to say "thirsty", what I have to do is I have to put the verb at the beginning of the sentence,

decir "sediento", lo que tengo que hacer es poner el verbo al principio de la oración,

and it doesn't change with "was". "I", "he", and "she", and "it" we use "was", but we put

y no cambia con "era". "I", "he", "she" y "it" usamos "was", pero

it at the beginning so I can say, "Oh, guess what? Was I thirsty?" So, "was I" -- my subject

lo ponemos al principio para que pueda decir: "Oh, ¿adivinen qué? ¿Tenía sed?" Entonces, "era yo" - mi sujeto

and then my adjective -- "thirsty". When you ask a question in English, make sure that

y luego mi adjetivo - "sediento". Cuando hagas una pregunta en inglés, asegúrate de que

your intonation goes up at the end of the sentence so you know or the person knows you're

tu entonación suba al final de la oración para que sepas o la persona sepa que

asking them a question. "Was he tired?" Make sure it goes up. When you use "you", "we",

le estás haciendo una pregunta. "¿Estaba cansado?" Asegúrate de que suba. Cuando usa "usted", "nosotros"

and "they", we have to change it to "were". So, instead of saying "was", we say "were".

y "ellos", tenemos que cambiarlo a "fueron". Entonces, en lugar de decir "era", decimos "eran".

"Were you tired?" So, be careful with this. So, "was" and "were" in the positive to make

"¿Estabas cansado?" Entonces, ten cuidado con esto. Entonces, "was" y "were" en positivo para hacer

a question, all we're going to do is reverse the order. We're going to put the "was" and

una pregunta, todo lo que vamos a hacer es invertir el orden. Vamos a poner el "was" y

the "were", the subject, and then the adjective. Let's go through some questions. Let's make

el "were", el sujeto y luego el adjetivo. Analicemos algunas preguntas. Hagamos de

this a question. "You were thirsty." How would you ask that as a question? Ask me. Yes, yes.

esto una pregunta. "Tenías sed". ¿Cómo harías eso como una pregunta? Pregúnteme. Sí Sí.

So, you said, "Ronnie, were you -- hey, Ronnie, were you thirsty?" Yes, I was. "Were you thirsty?"

Así que dijiste: "Ronnie, ¿tenías... oye, Ronnie, tenías sed?". Sí, lo estaba. "¿Tenías sed?" ¿

And what about the next one? "They were bad." How would you ask that as a question? "Were

Y qué hay del próximo? "Eran malos". ¿ Cómo harías eso como una pregunta? "¿Eran

they bad?" Good. And the last one, "We were angry." As a question, we're going to say,

malos?" Bien. Y el último, "Estábamos enojados". Como pregunta, vamos a decir:

"Were we angry?" "Were we angry?" Let's go through the examples using "I". And again,

"¿Estábamos enojados?" "¿Estábamos enojados?" Repasemos los ejemplos usando "I". Y de nuevo,

you're going to talk to yourself and say, "Huh, was I tired?" Yeah. "He was sad." Can

vas a hablarte a ti mismo y decir: "Eh, ¿estaba cansado?" Sí. "Estaba triste". ¿Puedes

you ask that as a question? So, remember, we use the verb, the subject, and the adjective.

hacer eso como una pregunta? Entonces, recuerda, usamos el verbo, el sujeto y el adjetivo.

So, we say, "Was he sad?" "Was he sad?" "She was funny." Can you make that a question?

Entonces, decimos, "¿Estaba triste?" "¿Estaba triste?" "Ella era graciosa". ¿Puedes hacer de eso una pregunta?

We're going to start with "was", and then the subject, and the adjective. "Was she funny?"

Vamos a empezar con "era", y luego el sujeto y el adjetivo. "¿Era graciosa?"

And the last one, "It was good." As a question, we would say, "Was it good?" So, we'd say,

Y el último, "Estuvo bueno". Como pregunta, diríamos, "¿Estuvo bien?" Entonces, decíamos:

"Hey, was it good?" All right. There's one other way that you have to be careful in English

"Oye, ¿estuvo bien?" Está bien. Hay otra forma en la que debes tener cuidado con la

grammar that we're going to use the auxiliary verb "was" or "were" in a sentence. So, this

gramática inglesa: vamos a usar el verbo auxiliar "was" o "were" en una oración. Entonces, esto

is just the simple "past", and I'll be right back to tell you one other grammar point called

es solo el "pasado" simple, y regresaré para contarte otro punto gramatical llamado

the "past continuous" where you have to use this grammar as well.

"pasado continuo" en el que también debes usar esta gramática.

Okay. So, the second part, when we use the verb "to be in the past", we have to use with

Bueno. Entonces, la segunda parte, cuando usamos el verbo "estar en pasado", tenemos que usar

this grammar called "past continuous". So, "past continuous", we're going to have a subject,

esta gramática llamada "pasado continuo". Entonces, "pasado continuo", vamos a tener un sujeto,

and we're going to use either "was" or "were", and we're going to use a verb in the "ing"

y vamos a usar "was" o "were", y vamos a usar un verbo en la forma "ing"

form, and this is what makes it continuous. So, "continuous" has a verb with "ing". For

, y esto es lo que lo hace continuo. Entonces, "continuo" tiene un verbo con "ing". Por

example, "I was eating." So, "eating" makes the sentence continuous. "Past continuous",

ejemplo, "Estaba comiendo". Entonces, "comer" hace que la oración sea continua. "Pasado continuo",

a lot of people are kind of like, "Oh, Ronnie, I don't know the past continuous." It's okay.

mucha gente dice: "Oh, Ronnie, no sé el pasado continuo". Está bien.

We use it to tell stories in the past. So, I can say, for example, "Okay. Yesterday,

Lo usamos para contar historias en el pasado. Entonces, puedo decir, por ejemplo, "Está bien. Ayer,

I was eating breakfast, and I dropped my cereal." So, we always use this for telling stories

estaba desayunando y se me cayó el cereal". Entonces, siempre usamos esto para contar historias

about the past. So, that's it. It's just about storytelling. Do you like to tell stories?

sobre el pasado. Eso es todo. Solo se trata de contar historias. ¿Te gusta contar historias?

If you do, you have to know this grammar. So, it's just like the simple past. You have

Si lo haces, tienes que conocer esta gramática. Entonces, es como el pasado simple. Tienes que

to use "he", "I", "she", and "it" with "was" or "wasn't", and "you", "we", and "they",

usar "he", "I", "she" y "it" con "was" o "wasn't", y "you", "we" y "they",

we're going to use "were" or "weren't" in the negative. So, it's the same idea. The

vamos a use "were" o "weron't" en forma negativa. Entonces, es la misma idea. La

difference is how we use it. We use it in the past continuous for storytelling, and

diferencia es cómo lo usamos. Lo usamos en el pasado continuo para contar historias, y

we don't use an adjective. For this one, we're going to use the verb plus "ing". The question

no usamos un adjetivo. Para este, vamos a usar el verbo más "ing". La pregunta

is going to be the same format. The question is going to be "was" or "were", and then your

va a tener el mismo formato. La pregunta será "era" o "eran", y luego su

subject. So, your subject is "I", "you", "we", "they", "he", "she", "it" plus the verb "ing".

tema. Entonces, tu sujeto es "yo", "tú", "nosotros", " ellos", "él", "ella", "eso" más el verbo "ing".

So, let's go through some examples. I'm telling a story, okay? So, "I was eating". This is

Entonces, veamos algunos ejemplos. Estoy contando una historia, ¿de acuerdo? Entonces, "estaba comiendo". Esto está

in the past tense, and I'm telling you, "Something else is going to happen. I was eating." "He

en tiempo pasado, y les digo: "Algo más va a pasar. Estaba comiendo". "Él

was", remember, "he was running." "It was jumping." Running, don't jump. Okay. Let's

estaba", recuerda, "él estaba corriendo". "Estaba saltando". Corre, no saltes. Bueno.

put these into the negative. So, when we want to put the negative, it's very easy, just

Pongámoslos en negativo. Entonces, cuando queremos poner el negativo, es muy fácil, tal

like we did before in the past, in the simple past. We're just going to use "wasn't". So,

como lo hicimos antes en el pasado, en el pasado simple. Solo vamos a usar "wasn't". Entonces,

we're going to say, "I wasn't eating." Good. Let's try this. "He was running." If we want

vamos a decir: "No estaba comiendo". Bien. Intentemos esto. "El estaba corriendo." Si queremos

to use this in the negative, we have to say, "He wasn't running." And if I say, "It was

usar esto en forma negativa, tenemos que decir: "Él no estaba corriendo". Y si digo, "Estaba

jumping", in the negative, I would say, "It wasn't jumping." Let's go through our examples

saltando", en forma negativa, diría, " No estaba saltando". Repasemos nuestros ejemplos

using "you", "we", and "they". "You were eating." "We were running." "They were jumping." Let's

usando "usted", "nosotros" y "ellos". "Tú estabas comiendo." "Estábamos corriendo". "Estaban saltando".

make these negative. When in the negative, we have to put "weren't", so we're going to

Hagamos estos negativos. Cuando está en negativo, tenemos que poner "weron't", así que vamos a

say, "You weren't eating." You do this one. "We weren't running." And when we do this,

decir "You weren't eat". Tú haces este. "No estábamos corriendo". Y cuando hacemos esto,

we have to make sure that we put the apostrophe here because in the long form, it's "not",

tenemos que asegurarnos de poner el apóstrofe aquí porque en la forma larga es "no",

but as I told you before, we usually don't say "not". We don't say, "We were not running."

pero como les dije antes, generalmente no decimos "no". No decimos: "No estábamos corriendo".

We say, "Weren't". So, make sure you put the apostrophe. And then, this one. Okay. Can

Nosotros decimos, "no eran". Por lo tanto, asegúrese de poner el apóstrofe. Y luego, este. Bueno. ¿Puedes

you say this in the negative? If I say, "We", no, "They were jumping", in the negative,

decir esto en forma negativa? Si digo, "Nosotros", no, "Estaban saltando", en forma negativa, te

your turn. Good. We're going to say, "They weren't jumping." Cool. Let's try the question,

toca a ti. Bien. Vamos a decir: " No estaban saltando". Fresco. Intentemos la pregunta, ¿

shall we? So, remember, with the question, we're going to use "was" or "were" first,

de acuerdo? Entonces, recuerda, con la pregunta, primero usaremos "was" o "were",

and then the subject, and then we're going to use the verb plus -ing. So, "They were

y luego el sujeto, y luego usaremos el verbo más -ing. Entonces, "estaban

jumping." Can you make that a question? We have to put, "Were they jumping?" Jump, jump,

saltando". ¿Puedes hacer de eso una pregunta? Tenemos que poner, "¿Estaban saltando?" Salta, salta,

jump, jump. "Were they jumping?" So, remember, the "were" part goes first. "We were running."

salta, salta. "¿Estaban saltando?" Entonces, recuerda, la parte "eran" va primero. "Estábamos corriendo".

As a question mark, we're going to say, "Were we running?" "Were we running?" I don't remember.

Como signo de interrogación, vamos a decir: "¿Estábamos corriendo?" "¿Estábamos corriendo?" no recuerdo ¿

What about this one? "You were eating." I want to ask you. I can say, "Hey, were you

Qué hay de este? "Tú estabas comiendo." Quiero preguntarte. Puedo decir, "Oye, ¿estabas

eating?" Oh, good. Good. Hey, do you know what? If you're hungry, please eat. Give me

comiendo?" Oh Dios. Bien. Oye, ¿sabes qué? Si tienes hambre, por favor come. Dame

some food, though, too. What are you eating? Oh, okay. Delicious. "It was jumping." Can

algo de comida, sin embargo, también. ¿Qué estás comiendo? Ah, okey. Delicioso. "Estaba saltando". ¿

you make that a question? Okay. "Was it jumping?" "He was running." You want to ask as a question,

Puedes hacer de eso una pregunta? Bueno. "¿Estaba saltando?" "El estaba corriendo." Si desea hacer una pregunta,

we say, "Was he running?" And the last one, "I was eating." As a question, we say, "Oh,

decimos: "¿Estaba corriendo?" Y el último, "Estaba comiendo". Como pregunta, decimos: "Oh,

hey, was I eating?" I don't remember. So, if you have questions about this, please ask

oye, ¿estaba comiendo?" no recuerdo Entonces, si tiene preguntas sobre esto, por favor pregunte

in the comments, and I'll try and get back to you. Till then, I'm going to go on an adventure.

en los comentarios e intentaré responderle. Hasta entonces, me voy a ir a la aventura.

Bye.

Adiós.