Basic English Grammar: How to Use WAS and WERE

Hi.

Olá

I'm Rebecca from engVid.

Eu sou a Rebecca do Engvid

In this lesson you'll learn how to use the past tense of the verb "to be".

Nesta aula você irá aprender como usar o tempo verbal do passado do verbo "to be" (ser/estar)

Now, as you know, the verb "to be" is a really important verb, so in this lesson you'll learn

Agora, como você sabe, o verbo "to be" é realmente importante, então nessa aula você irá aprender

how to use the words "was" and "were" correctly in English.

como usar as palavras "was" e "were" corretamente em inglês.

Now, this is a beginner's lesson, but even if you are at any level and you just want

Bem, essa é uma aula para iniciantes, mas mesmo que você esteja em um outro nível e apenas queira

to review the basics, this lesson will help you.

revisar o conteúdo básico, ela lhe será muito útil.

So, let's get started.

Então vamos começar.

So, the verb "to be", of course, can be used in the present, in the past, and also in the future.

O verbo "to be", claro, pode ser usado no presente, no passado, e também no futuro.

But in this lesson we are focusing on how to use it in the past.

Mas nesta aula nós iremos focar somente em como usá-lo no passado.

I'm going to just review very quickly how to use it in the present, but I think you

Eu irei relembrá-los rapidamente a como usá-lo no presente, mas eu acredito que vocês

already know that.

já saibam isso.

Right?

Certo?

Okay.

Okay.

So, when we say: "The present", what do we mean by that?

Quando nós dizemos: "presente", o que queremos dizer com isso?

It could mean right now, it could mean this year, it could mean today.

Isso pode significar agora, esse ano, no dia de hoje.

Right?

Certo?

So, for example: "I am at work right now.

Por exemplo: "Eu estou trabalhando agora.

Yesterday I was at home."

Ontem eu estava em casa."

So when I say "was", that's the past.

Quando eu digo "was" (estava), isso é o passado.

The past can be yesterday, last night, last week, five years ago; any time before now

O passado pode ser ontem, a noite passada, a semana passada, cinco anos atrás; qualquer momento antes de agora

is the past.

no passado.

Okay.

Okay.

So, let's take another example.

Vamos fazer outro exemplo.

"He is a manager this year.

"Ele é um gerente esse ano.

Last year he was a worker".

Ano passado ele era um operário".

"He is" becomes "He was".

"He is" (ele é) se tornou "He was" (ele era).

Next: "She is in London today.

Próximo: "Ela está em Londres hoje.

Yesterday she was in Paris."

Ontem ela estava em Paris."

Again, "is" became "was".

Novamente, "is" (está) se tornou "was" (estava).

Another example: "It is cold today.

Outro exemplo: "Hoje está frio.

Yesterday it was hot."

Ontem estava calor."

So, once again, "is" became "was".

Novamente, "is" (está) se tornou "was" (estava).

So what's the pattern here?

Qual é o padrão aqui?

What do you see?

O que você percebe?

I know you see the pattern, so the pattern is that all of these became "was".

Eu sei que você notou o padrão, que é que todos estes se tornaram "was".

So: "I am", "I was"; "He is", "He was"; "She is", "She was"; "It is", "It was", right?

Logo: "I am", "I was"; "He is", "He was"; "She is", "She was"; "It is", "It was", certo?

So all of these: "am" and "is" become "was" in the past.

Todos esses: "am" e "is" tornaram-se "was" no passado.

All right?

Certo?

Let's go to some other pronouns.

Vamos para alguns outros pronomes.

"We are studying right now.

"Nós estamos estudando agora.

Yesterday we were working".

Ontem nós estávamos trabalhando".

"We were", make sure you pronounce that properly.

"We were", tenha certeza de pronunciar corretamente.

A lot of people make a mistake when they say "were".

Muitas pessoas cometem um erro quando pronunciam "were".

It's not the word "where", like the question.

Não é a palavra "where", como a pergunta.

It's "were".

É "were".

Okay?

Okay?

Say it with me: "We were studying."

Repita comigo: "We were studying."

Good.

Legal.

Or, sorry: "We were working."

Oh, desculpa: "We were working."

All right.

Certo.

Another example: "You are married today.

Outro exemplo: "Hoje vocês estão casados.

Yesterday you were single."

Ontem vocês estavam solteiros."

Okay?

Okay?

Somebody just got married.

Alguém acabou de se casar.

All right.

Certo.

"They are here right now, but a few hours ago they were over there."

"Eles estão aqui agora, mas algumas horas atrás eles estavam lá."

Okay?

Okay?

All right.

Certo.

So, what do you see here?

O que você nota aqui?

Another pattern.

Outro padrão.

Whatever is "are" in the present tense becomes "were" in the past tense, that's all.

Seja qual for o sujeito "are" no presente sempre se tornará "were" no passado. Isso é tudo.

So there's only two possibilities in the past tense: "was" or "were".

Só há duas possibilidades no passado: "was" ou "were".

Okay?

Okay?

So, here's a little review: "am" and "is" become "was"; and "are" becomes "were".

Aqui vai um lembretinho: "am" e "is" se tornam "was"; e "are" se torna "were".

Now, one last little point: "was" and "were" can be used by themselves.

Agora, mais um lembrete: "was" and "were" podem ser usados por si mesmos.

Okay?

Okay?

So this can be a verb used by itself.

Pode ser um verbo usado por si mesmo.

For example: "It was hot."

Por exemplo: "It was hot."

This is just the verb "to be" by itself, or "was" and "were" can be used as helping verbs.

Isso é só o verbo "to be" por ele mesmo, ou "was" e "were" podem ser usados como verbos auxiliares.

For example: "We were working."

Por exemplo: "We were working."

Okay?

Okay?

So that's just a little something to keep in mind.

Isso é só uma coisinha para se manter em mente.

Now, next, you'll learn how to use "was" and "were" in English.

Agora, em seguida, você vai aprender como usar "was" e "were" em inglês.

Now let's look at how to use "was" and "were" in positive sentences, negative sentences,

Vejamos como usar "was" e "were" em sentenças positivas, negativas

and also in questions.

e também em questões.

Okay?

Okay?

So, as you've already learned: "I", "He", "She", and "It" all use "was".

Como você já aprendeu: "I", "He", "She", e "It" usa "was".

Right?

Certo?

"I was at home", "He was at home", "She was at home", "It was at home".

"I was at home", "He was at home", "She was at home", "It was at home".

"It" can be for a thing, for example, a cellphone.

"It" pode ser uma coisa, por exemplo, um celular.

All right?

Certo?

If you want to make that sentence negative, then basically in English what we have to

Se você quiser tornar essa sentença em negativa, basicamente terá

add is the word "not": "I was not", but when we're speaking we don't usually say: "I was

que adicionar a palavra "not": "I was not", mas quando falamos, nós não dizemos: "I was

not at home."

not at home."

We just say something a little shorter, we say: "I wasn't at home."

Nós dizemos algo mais curto, como: "I wasn't at home."

Do you want to repeat that after me so you can learn how to pronounce it really well?

Você gostaria de repetir comigo, assim poderá aprender a como pronunciar?

"I wasn't at home."

"I wasn't at home."

Now, when you're writing it, just remember that the apostrophe goes where we take out

Agora, quando você está escrevendo, se lembre que a apóstrofe vai onde está

the "o".

o "o".

So: "was" and "not", take out the "o" and add the apostrophe, and then you'll not only

Então: "was" e "not", tire o "o" e coloque a apóstrofe, então não somente

say it perfectly, you'll also spell it perfectly.

falará perfeitamente, como também pronunciará perfeitamente.

Good.

Bom.

So: "I was", "I wasn't".

Então: "I was", "I wasn't".

And then to make a question, we just change the order.

E para fazer uma pergunta, nós só alteramos a ordem.

Same word, right?

A mesma palavra, okay?

"Was I at home?

"Was I at home?

I don't remember.", "Was he at school?", "Was she at work?", "Was it on the shelf?"

I don't remember.", "was he at school?", "Was she at work?", "Was it on the shelf?"

Okay?

Okay?

So you're just changing the order when you make a question, so that's pretty straightforward.

Você só está mudando a ordem quando faz uma pergunta. Isso é bem direto.

Now let's look at what happens with: "We", "You", and "They".

Vejamos o que acontece com: "We", "You", e "They".

For that we have to use "were".

Para esses nós utilizamos "were".

"We were", "You were", "They were".

"We were", "You were", "They were".

And how do we make it negative?

E como torná-las negativas?

Again, you only add the word "not".

Novamente, você adiciona a palavra "not".

So, if you were to say the full thing, you would say: "We were not at home", but as I

Se você tiver dito a coisa toda, você poderá dizer: "We were not at home", mas como eu

said, usually we shorten it, we contract it, and it sounds like this: "We weren't at home."

disse, normalmente nós encurtamos isso, nós contraímos, e fica assim: "We weren't at home."

Repeat after me: "We weren't at home.", "You weren't at home.", "They weren't at home."

Repita comigo: "We weren't at home.", "You weren't at home.", "They weren't at home."

All right?

Certo?

And if you want to make a question, same principle, same rule, again, you put the word "were"

E se você quiser fazer uma pergunta, mesmo princípio, mesma regra, de novo, você põe a palavra "were"

before, so: "Were we at home?", "Were you at school?", "Were they at work?"

antes: "Were we at home?", "Were you at school?", "Were they at work?"

Okay?

Okay?

So you're just changing the order.

Você só muda a ordem.

Now, how do you know that you know all of these things?

Agora, como você sabe que sabe tudo isso?

When you can make a positive sentence, a negative sentence, and a question.

Quando você consegue fazer uma sentença positiva, uma negativa, e uma questão.

So take one of them.

Então escolha um deles.

For example, just take a simple sentence.

Por exemplo, escolha uma sentença simples.

Don't add a lot of vocabulary; keep it really simple.

Não adicione muito vocabulário; a mantenha simples.

"He was tired."

"He was tired."

Right?

Certo?

"He was tired."

"He was tired."

Make it negative: "He wasn't tired."

Torne negativo: "He wasn't tired."

Make it a question: "Was he tired?"

Torne uma pergunta: "Was he tired?"

All right?

Certo?

So take any of these pronouns...

Pegue um desses pronomes

These are all called pronouns, and make simple sentences, then make them negative, and then

Esses são todos chamados pronomes, e faça sentenças simples, torne-as negativas, e então

make them into a question.

transforme-as em perguntas.

And when you can do that easily, then you have learned how to use "was" and "were".

Então quando você fizer isso facilmente, terá aprendido como usar "was" e "were".

Next we'll do some practice so you can get really good at this.

Agora vamos praticar um pouco, assim você ficará realmente bom nisso.

So now we have eight sentences on the board and you're going to help me fill in the blanks

Nós temos oito sentenças no quadro e você irá me ajudar a completar os espaços.

with "was" or "were".

com "was" ou "were".

Let's go.

Vamos lá.

Number one: "Mr. Williams _______ at the meeting."

Primeira: "Mr. Williams ______ at the meeting."

Do we say: "Mr. Williams was at the meeting" or "Mr. Williams were at the meeting"?

Nós dizemos: "Mr. Williams was at the meeting" ou "Mr. Williams were at the meeting"?

What do we say?

Como nós dizemos?

"Mr. Williams was at the meeting."

"Mr. Williams was at the meeting."

Very good.

Muito bom.

"Her classes _______ interesting.

"Suas aulas _____ interesting.

Her classes _______ interesting."

Her classes ___ interesting."

"was" or "were", which one?

"was" ou "were", qual?

"Her classes were interesting", because it's "classes", right?

"Her classes were interesting", porque é "classes", certo?

It's plural.

É plural.

It's like "they".

É como "elas".

Very good.

Muito bom.

"My suitcase _______ very heavy.

"My suitcase ____ very heavy.

My suitcase _______ very heavy."

My suitcase ___ very heavy."

My suitcase is like what that we learned?

My suitcase é o quê segundo o que aprendemos?

It, it's one thing.

It, é uma coisa.

So: "My suitcase was very heavy."

Logo: "my suitcase was very heavy."

Very good.

Muito bom.

"The stores _______ closed."

"The stores ____ closed."

The stores, it's plural.

"The stores" é plural.

It's like "they", so what do we say?

É como "elas", então o quê nós dizemos?

They were closed.

They were closed.

Very good.

Muito bom.

Number five: "It _______ raining yesterday."

Número cinco: "It ____ raining yesterday."

"It was raining" or "It were raining", which one sounds right?

"It was raining" ou "It were raining", qual soa correto?

By now if you say it out loud, you will also hear what's correct.

Agora, se você disser isso em voz alta, você saberá qual está correta.

It...

It...

"It was raining."

"It was raining."

Okay, good.

Okay, bom.

Number six: "I _______ hungry.

Número seis: "I ____ hungry.

I _______ hungry."

I ____ hungry."

So, what should it be?

Qual deverá ser?

"I was hungry" or "I were hungry"?

"I was hungry" ou "I were hungry"?

"I was", always "was".

"I was", sempre "was".

"I was".

"I was".

Number seven: "_______ you late?"

Sétima: "____ you late?"

"Was you late?" or "Were you late?"

"Was you late?" ou "Were you late"?

Which one is correct?

Qual está correta?

"Were you", okay?

"Were you", okay?

Very important because we often ask questions to other people, right?

Muito importante porque nós geralmente perguntamos à outra pessoa, certo?

So this one with "you" is really important.

Essa com "you" é muito importante.

"Were you on time?", "Were you late?", "Were you in a meeting?", "Were you at home?"

"Were you on time?", "Were you late?", "Were you at a meeting?", "Were you at home?"

Lots and lots of questions that we ask like that, so pay attention to that one, okay?

Muitas e muitas perguntas nós fazemos desse modo, então fique atento a esta, okay?

And number eight: "We _______ in Brazil."

E número oito: "We ____ Brazil."

We...

We...

What should it be?

O que deverá ser?

"We were in Brazil."

"We were in Brazil."

Okay?

Certo?

Now, let's really quickly go through them and make them negative, because you can do

Agora vamos rapidamente torná-las negativas, porque você pode fazer

it, I know you can.

isso, eu sei que pode.

"Mr. Williams was at the meeting.

"Mr. Williams was at the meeting.

Mr. Williams wasn't".

Mr. Williams wasn't".

You say it with me, okay?

Repita comigo, okay?

"Her classes weren't interesting.", "My suitcase wasn't very heavy.", "The stores weren't closed.",

"Her classes weren't interesting.", "My suitcase wasn't heavy.", "The stores weren't closed."

"It wasn't raining yesterday.", "I wasn't hungry.", "Weren't you late?"

"It wasn't raining yesterday.", "I wasn't hungry.", "Weren't you late?"

Yes, you can ask a question like that.

Sim, você pode fazer uma pergunta assim.

"Weren't you late?"

"Weren't you late?" (Você não estava atrasado?)

You can ask a negative question also.

Você também pode fazer uma pergunta negativa.

Okay?

Okay?

Good for you.

Ótimo.

And: "We weren't in Brazil."

E: We weren't in Brazil."

Okay.

Okay.

So, very, very good work.

Muito, muito bom trabalho.

Now, if you're really serious about improving your English, please subscribe to my YouTube

Agora, se você realmente leva a sério o aperfeiçoamento do seu inglês, increva-se no meu

channel.

canal

You can continue to get lots of new lessons as they appear, okay?

Você pode continuar tendo um monte de novas aulas conforme elas forem surgindo, okay?

Next, the other thing you can do is to go to our website; it's free, doesn't cost you

Outra coisa que você pode fazer é ir até o nosso website; é grátis, não lhe custa

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qualquer dinheiro, é disponível para você melhorar o seu inglês e usar todos os diferentes

websites and resources that you can to improve every day.

websites e recursos para isso todos os dias.

So, go to our website: www.engvid.com; there, you can do two things.

Então, vá até o nosso site: www.engvid.com; lá você pode fazer duas coisas.

First, just to review this lesson, go to the quiz that's available for this lesson and

Primeiro, reveja essa lição, faça o quiz que está disponível e

do that so you'll get some extra practice, and then look around.

você terá praticado um pouco mais, e dê uma navegada pelo site.

On that website we have hundreds of lessons in English.

Neste site você tem centenas de aulas em inglês.

And many of them are at beginner, intermediate, advanced levels, and you will be able to find

E muitas delas são para níveis iniciante, intermediário, e avançado, e você poderá encontrar

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as lições que se comuniquem com suas dificuldades, ajudando-o a superá-las e

make progress in English.

progredir no inglês.

Okay?

Okay?

Thanks very much for watching.

Muito obrigado por assistir.

Good luck with your English.

Boa sorte com seu inglês.