TEMA: EL VERBO ‘TO BE’ EN PASADO

OBJETIVO Identificar el uso del pasado del verbo “to be”, tanto en preguntas como
en
: oraciones negativas y afirmativas.
TIPO DE completar oraciones y construir preguntas
ACTIVIDAD:

PREPARACIÓ
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Para realizar esta ficha necesitas recordar la forma de usar el verbo “ to be ” en el tiempo presente
simple. La única diferencia con respecto a su uso en tiempo pasado radica precisamente en que se
utiliza para expresar estados o condiciones que ya ocurrieron.

Analiza los siguientes esquemas EN LOS QUE se te dice cómo utilizar el verbo “ to be ” en
oraciones afirmativas, negativas, preguntas y respuestas cortas.

Affirmative sentences Negative sentences Yes/no questions

I I I?
He was He wasn’t he?
She She was not Was she?
It It it?
We We we?
You were You weren’t you?
They They were not Were they?

Short answers Short

answers was .
I/he/she/it No, we/you/they/ I/he/she/it wasn’t .
Yes, we/you/they
. weren’t.

Estudia las siguientes oraciones en las que se utiliza el verbo ‘to be’ en presente y pasado.

Last year, Rachel was 22, so she is 23 now.

We were hungry after the journey, but we weren’t tired.
The hotel was comfortable, but it wasn’t expensive.
People were friendly.
Was the weather good when you were on holiday?
Those shoes are nice. Were they expensive?
Why were you late this morning?
Was the hotel expensive?
Were you late? No, I wasn’t.
Was Ted at work yesterday? Yes, he was.
Were Sue and Steve at the party? No, they weren’t.

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INSTRUCCIONE
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I. Fill in the following sentences with was /were or w asn’t /weren’t.

1. We ……. happy at the hotel. Our room…….. very small, and it ……….. very clean.
2. George ……… at work last week because he ……… ill. He’s better now.
3. Yesterday ………. public holiday so the shops ……... closed. They’re open today.
4. ………….Sue and Bill at the party?
Sue………. there, but
Bill………….
5. You ………… at home last night. Where……….you?
6. Carol and Jack ……….. at the cinema yesterday. They ………… at home.
7. …….. Sue at the station?
Yes, s he ………..
there.8. As usual, students ………… at the restaurant yesterday noon.
9. …… you at home last night? No, I………. . I ……… at a friend’s house.
10. Ben ………on the beach. He ……. at hospital because he …… sick.

II. Now, based on the information given about asking questions with ‘to be’, write questions
adding the corresponding form of the verb ‘to be’. Follow the example. Be careful with the
order of words.

(late/ you / this morning / ?)

Were you late this morning?

1. (difficult / your exam / ?)

2. (last week / Ann and Chris / on holiday / ?)
3. (your new camera / in the drawer / now / ?)
4. (angry / you / yesterday night / ?)
5. (nice / the weather / last week / ?)
6. (very / good / the / restaurants / ?)
7. (at home / you / yesterday / ?)
8. (your friends / at / church / last Sunday / ?)
9. (Rose / in / class / yesterday / ?)
10. (this morning / at the store / they / ?)

Now check your answers in the Answer key.

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ANSWER
KEY
I. Sentences II. Questions.

1. weren’t…. was …. wasn’t 1. Was your exam difficult?

2. wasn’t … 2. Were Ann and Chris on holiday last week?
3. was... were
was…. 3. Was your new camera in the drawer?
4. were... was... 4. Were you angry yesterday?
5. weren’t... were
wasn’t 5. Was the weather nice last week?
6. was... 6. Were the restaurants very good?
7.
wasweren’t... were 7. Were you at home yesterday?
8. were / weren’t 8. Were your friends at church last Sunday?
9. were… wasn’t…. was 9. Was Rose in class yesterday?
10. wasn’t… was… was 10. Were they at the stores this morning

INTERPRETACIÓN DE
RESULTADOS
El total de respuestas es 20.

16 o más respuestas correctas : ¡Felicitaciones! Reconoces el uso de la estructura gramatical

del verbo to be en pasado, conoces el significado de las oraciones y puedes escribir preguntas.
Sigue practicando el pasado simple. Podrías afianzar este aprendizaje con ejercicios más
complejos. Practica otras formas de preguntas utilizando por ejemplo palabras interrogativas
como what, where, how, who, y why Dirígete al libro Focus on Grammar, Basic
when and practice
for reference .
. Lo encontrarás course
en el Centro de Recursos.

12 a 15 respuestas correctas : Tu aprendizaje está avanzando pero es necesario consolidarlo.

Revisa de nuevo los cuadros que aparecen en la parte de preparación de la ficha y asegúrate
de haber comprendido las estructuras que se proponen para el uso del verbo to be en forma
afirmativa, negativa y en pregunta. Es posible que tu dificultad haya sido también el vocabulario
que se utiliza. Anéxalo a tu portafolio para realizar los ejercicios necesarios y aprenderlo.
Además, dirígete al libro Focus on Grammar, a Basic course for reference and practice . Lo
encontrarás en el Centro de Recursos. A partir de la página 20 y hasta 32 encontrarás la
explicación detallada del uso de este verbo no sólo en pasado sino también en presente .

Menos de 12 respuestas correctas : Debes reflexionar sobre las causas de tu desempeño.

¿Tienes dificultades con el significado o con la forma correcta del verbo? Para mejorarlo,
observa detenidamente las oraciones que se presentan en esta ficha y su relación con los
cuadros que están en la preparación. Dirígete al libro Focus on Grammar, an
course for reference and practice , página 44 . introductory

BIBLIOGRAFÍA Murphy, Raymund. (1998) Essential Grammar in Use

DESIGNED
: Martha Isabel Acero Vega (octubre 2003)
BY:
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