El temps passat "was and were"

El past simple del verb "ser o "estar" constitueix una excepció, ja que és l'únic que té dues formes, was i were, i que no requereix l'ús de l'auxiliar did en les formes negatives i interrogatives ni en les respostes breus:

• I was - jo era o estava
• you were - tu eres o estaves, vosaltres éreu o estaveu
• he /she was - ell era o estava
• we were - nosaltres érem o estàvem
• they were - ells eren o estaven

Les formes negatives s'obtenen col·locant la partícula not després de was o were. Les contraccions de les formes negatives són wasn't i weren't.

• Jeff wasn't in Tokyo last week 
• We weren't here yesterday

Les formes interrogatives s'obtenen invertint l'ordre del subjecte i del verb.

• Was Jeff in Tokyo last week?
• Were you here yesterday?