Was/were vs Did
Moderators: Dimitris, maneki neko2, Lorikeet, Enrico Palazzo, superpeach, cecil2, Mr. Kalgukshi2
Was/were vs Did
Hello there! I have a problem. I'm teaching the simple past tense, and I don't really know how to explain one of my students when to use was/were or did. please HELPPPPPP
-
- Posts: 3031
- Joined: Tue Oct 26, 2004 6:57 pm
- Location: UK > China > Japan > UK again
Was/were is used in constructions that contain adjectives or other types of complements (BE is known as 'the copula'), or participles (-ing form, and past participle); in those constructions with participles, although the was/were is technically still a "tensed" (or finite) verb, the (was/were+) -ing participle construction amounts to what is known as PROGRESSIVE or CONTINUOUS ASPECT, whilst the (was/were+) past participle will add VOICE (that is, form a PASSIVE construction). It is VITAL that you understand the (functional!) difference between truly 'Simple Past' constructions (which, beyond simple, positive statments will require the auxiliary DO to e.g. form questions, short answers, negatives or increase emphasis in the positive statement), and constructions that involve progressive aspect and/or (combinations are possible!) passive voice.
Bedtime reading/Homework:
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/teacher/v ... 4794#14794
http://www.soton.ac.uk/~enm/vbans.htm
Bedtime reading/Homework:
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/teacher/v ... 4794#14794
http://www.soton.ac.uk/~enm/vbans.htm
-
- Posts: 39
- Joined: Sat Sep 20, 2003 4:33 am
- Location: Mexico City, Mexico
Use was/ were (without did!) if you're talking about the verb "to be", and use "did" for all other verbs in the past when you are using them in the negative or question form.
Examples with the verb "to be" in the past:
She was sick last Monday.
She wasn't sick that Monday
Was she sick last Monday?
They were tired.
They weren't tired.
Were they tired?
(No need for "did" when you're using the verb "to be", OK?)
Examples with other verbs:
She played tennis yesterday.
She didn't play tennis yesterday.
Did she play tennis yesterday?
They ate pie after dinner.
They didn't eat pie after dinner.
Did they eat pie after dinner?
See the pattern, Jaz? See how you only use "did" for the negatives and questions in the past? The same is true with the simple present... we need the auxiliary "do/does" to make negatives and questions.
Hope this helps!
Examples with the verb "to be" in the past:
She was sick last Monday.
She wasn't sick that Monday
Was she sick last Monday?
They were tired.
They weren't tired.
Were they tired?
(No need for "did" when you're using the verb "to be", OK?)
Examples with other verbs:
She played tennis yesterday.
She didn't play tennis yesterday.
Did she play tennis yesterday?
They ate pie after dinner.
They didn't eat pie after dinner.
Did they eat pie after dinner?
See the pattern, Jaz? See how you only use "did" for the negatives and questions in the past? The same is true with the simple present... we need the auxiliary "do/does" to make negatives and questions.
Hope this helps!
-
- Posts: 39
- Joined: Sat Sep 20, 2003 4:33 am
- Location: Mexico City, Mexico
Use was/ were (without did!) if you're talking about the verb "to be", and use "did" for all other verbs in the past when you are using them in the negative or question form.
Examples with the verb "to be" in the past:
She was sick last Monday.
She wasn't sick that Monday
Was she sick last Monday?
They were tired.
They weren't tired.
Were they tired?
(No need for "did" when you're using the verb "to be", OK?)
Examples with other verbs:
She played tennis yesterday.
She didn't play tennis yesterday.
Did she play tennis yesterday?
They ate pie after dinner.
They didn't eat pie after dinner.
Did they eat pie after dinner?
See the pattern, Jaz? See how you only use "did" for the negatives and questions in the past? The same is true with the simple present... we need the auxiliary "do/does" to make negatives and questions.
Hope this helps!
Examples with the verb "to be" in the past:
She was sick last Monday.
She wasn't sick that Monday
Was she sick last Monday?
They were tired.
They weren't tired.
Were they tired?
(No need for "did" when you're using the verb "to be", OK?)
Examples with other verbs:
She played tennis yesterday.
She didn't play tennis yesterday.
Did she play tennis yesterday?
They ate pie after dinner.
They didn't eat pie after dinner.
Did they eat pie after dinner?
See the pattern, Jaz? See how you only use "did" for the negatives and questions in the past? The same is true with the simple present... we need the auxiliary "do/does" to make negatives and questions.
Hope this helps!
-
- Posts: 39
- Joined: Sat Sep 20, 2003 4:33 am
- Location: Mexico City, Mexico
Use was/ were (without did!) if you're talking about the verb "to be", and use "did" for all other verbs in the past when you are using them in the negative or question form.
Examples with the verb "to be" in the past:
She was sick last Monday.
She wasn't sick that Monday
Was she sick last Monday?
They were tired.
They weren't tired.
Were they tired?
(No need for "did" when you're using the verb "to be", OK?)
Examples with other verbs:
She played tennis yesterday.
She didn't play tennis yesterday.
Did she play tennis yesterday?
They ate pie after dinner.
They didn't eat pie after dinner.
Did they eat pie after dinner?
See the pattern, Jaz? See how you only use "did" for the negatives and questions in the past? The same is true with the simple present... we need the auxiliary "do/does" to make negatives and questions.
Hope this helps!
Examples with the verb "to be" in the past:
She was sick last Monday.
She wasn't sick that Monday
Was she sick last Monday?
They were tired.
They weren't tired.
Were they tired?
(No need for "did" when you're using the verb "to be", OK?)
Examples with other verbs:
She played tennis yesterday.
She didn't play tennis yesterday.
Did she play tennis yesterday?
They ate pie after dinner.
They didn't eat pie after dinner.
Did they eat pie after dinner?
See the pattern, Jaz? See how you only use "did" for the negatives and questions in the past? The same is true with the simple present... we need the auxiliary "do/does" to make negatives and questions.
Hope this helps!
-
- Posts: 39
- Joined: Sat Sep 20, 2003 4:33 am
- Location: Mexico City, Mexico
-
- Posts: 3031
- Joined: Tue Oct 26, 2004 6:57 pm
- Location: UK > China > Japan > UK again
Did you have problems getting your post to submit (e.g. slow to load)? If you hit the submit button repeatedly, it can result in the post being posted multiple times.
You can usually only completely delete a post if it is a very recent one (i.e. very few people have looked at it, and there are no replies to it). The most you can probably therefore do now is to edit the first two or last two down to e.g. 'Multiple post'.
Kind of related, I always copy what I've typed before I hit submit, because sometimes all connection gets lost, and the post with it, never to be seen again!
You can usually only completely delete a post if it is a very recent one (i.e. very few people have looked at it, and there are no replies to it). The most you can probably therefore do now is to edit the first two or last two down to e.g. 'Multiple post'.
Kind of related, I always copy what I've typed before I hit submit, because sometimes all connection gets lost, and the post with it, never to be seen again!
I think Rebeca's explanation is a bit oversimplified. It would be a good way to explain the usage of "was/were" and "did" in questions in a beginner class, that hasn't talked about the continuos tenses yet. However, if you have a class that has tackled these tenses already, then Rebeca's explanation won't stand.
"She was doing her homework." - Was she doing her homework?
They were listening to the news. - Were they listening to the news?
In each sentence, the verb "be" is not the main verb, however we still use it to start off each question. Fluffyhamster's given a very thorough answer, but depending on how much you want to tell your students at the moment, you can opt for Rebeca's as well.
"She was doing her homework." - Was she doing her homework?
They were listening to the news. - Were they listening to the news?
In each sentence, the verb "be" is not the main verb, however we still use it to start off each question. Fluffyhamster's given a very thorough answer, but depending on how much you want to tell your students at the moment, you can opt for Rebeca's as well.
How about making parallels with the present? If it's do in the present, it's did in the past.
Is/Was it a good film?
Do/Did you like Star Wars?
You aren't/weren't very nice to your sister.
If the students can do it for the Present, they should have no problem with the Past; the principle is exactly the same.
Is/Was it a good film?
Do/Did you like Star Wars?
You aren't/weren't very nice to your sister.
If the students can do it for the Present, they should have no problem with the Past; the principle is exactly the same.