A2 · 初中級 チャプター 4

The Past: States and Regular Actions

6 トータルルール
69 例文
5 分
このチャプターのルール クイック練習

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Unlock the power of the past to tell engaging stories about your life and experiences.

  • Identify states using was and were.
  • Form questions and negative sentences in the past.
  • Conjugate regular verbs by adding the -ed suffix.
Master the past and start telling your story today.

学べること

Ready to tell your own stories about the past? In this chapter, we'll practice using was and were and adding -ed to regular verbs, so you can easily describe where you were and what you did yesterday!

  • 過去形: 動詞 'be' (was/were)
    「was」と「were」をマスターして、過去の状態や場所を正確に表現しよう。「was」「were」「過去の状態」
  • 過去形の疑問文：〜でしたか？ (Was/Were)
    「was」や「were」を主語の前に置くだけで、過去の「状態」や「場所」について質問できるんですよ。とっても簡単！
  • 過去形否定: wasn't & weren't
    wasn't と weren't は、昔の「状況」や「場所」について「〜ではなかった」と伝えるときに使う、便利な「過去の否定形」だよ。
  • 過去形: 規則動詞 (-ed のルール)
    「-ed」のルールをマスターすれば、過去の出来事をたくさん話せるようになるよ！これは君の «ストーリーテリング» スキルを大きく «レベルアップ» させるからね！
  • 過去形綴り字規則 (-ed, -ied, -d)
    これらの「-ed」のつづり方を「マスター」すれば、過去形の動詞がいつも「完璧に正しい」見た目になりますよ！
  • 過去形の発信：yesterday, ago, last の使い方
    「いつ」行動したのかをしっかり伝える、過去形の時間表現は「時間のアンカー」だよ！yesterday last ago を使いこなそう。

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Describe where you were and what you did during your last vacation.

チャプターガイド

Overview

Ready to take your English conversations to the next level? Mastering English the past: states and regular actions is a huge step in being able to share your experiences and tell your own stories. This essential A2 English grammar will unlock your ability to talk about yesterday, last week, or even your childhood.
Imagine easily describing where you were last night, what you did over the weekend, or how you felt about a past event.
In this guide, we’ll dive into the fundamental building blocks of talking about the past. You'll learn how to correctly use was and were for past states and locations, how to ask questions about the past, and how to form negative sentences. We'll also explore the simple yet powerful rule of adding -ed to regular verbs to describe completed actions, along with the necessary spelling adjustments.
Finally, we'll equip you with key time expressions like yesterday, ago, and last to firmly place your stories in a specific past moment. Let’s get started and give you the tools to chat confidently about what’s already happened!

How This Grammar Works

Talking about the past in English often starts with understanding two main ideas: describing past *states* (how things were) and describing past *actions* (what someone did).
For past states, feelings, or locations, we use the Past Simple form of the verb to be, which is was or were. We use was for singular subjects (I, he, she, it) and were for plural subjects (you, we, they). For example,
I was tired yesterday
or
They were at the library an hour ago.
To ask questions, simply put was or were before the subject:
Was he busy?
or
Were you happy?
To make these negative, we add not to form wasn't (was not) or weren't (were not): "She wasn't at home or We weren't ready."
When we talk about completed actions, things that are officially over and finished in the past, we use the Past Simple with regular verbs. The great news is that for most regular verbs, you just add -ed to the base form! For example,
I walked to work,
She played tennis,
or
They watched a movie.
There are a few important spelling rules to remember: if a verb ends in -e, just add -d (e.g., live -> lived).
If a verb ends in -y preceded by a consonant, change the -y to -i and add -ed (e.g., study -> studied). For short verbs with a CVC (consonant-vowel-consonant) pattern, we often double the last consonant before adding -ed (e.g., stop -> stopped). To make your past simple sentences clear, use time expressions like yesterday, last week, or two days ago.
These words help anchor your story to a specific, finished moment.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1Mixing 'to be' with 'did':
* ✗ I *did was* happy.
* ✓ I was happy.
* Explanation: Was and were are already past tense. You don't need did with them.
  1. 1Incorrect 'to be' form or missing '-ed':
* ✗ We *was* at the party.
* ✓ We were at the party.
* ✗ She *play* tennis yesterday.
* ✓ She played tennis yesterday.
* Explanation: Remember to match was/were with the correct subject (singular/plural) and always add -ed for regular past actions.
  1. 1Ignoring spelling rules for '-ed' verbs:
* ✗ They *studyd* for the exam.
* ✓ They studied for the exam.
* Explanation: Pay attention to verbs ending in -y or those with a CVC pattern to ensure correct spelling.

Real Conversations

A

A

How was your trip to the museum yesterday?
B

B

It was fantastic! I really enjoyed the ancient art exhibit. We walked around for hours.
A

A

Were you busy last weekend?
B

B

Not really. I stayed home and watched some movies. My brother was at his friend's house, so it was quiet.
A

A

Why weren't you at the meeting this morning?
B

B

Oh, I was a little late because my train stopped. I arrived just after it finished.

Quick FAQ

Q

When do I use was and were in English?

You use was for singular subjects (I, he, she, it) and were for plural subjects (you, we, they) to describe past states, feelings, or locations. For example,

I was cold,
but
They were warm.

Q

What are the main rules for adding -ed to regular verbs?

Generally, just add -ed (e.g., walked). If the verb ends in -e, add -d (e.g., lived). If it ends in a consonant + -y, change the -y to -i and add -ed (e.g., studied). If it's a short verb with a CVC pattern, double the last consonant and add -ed (e.g., stopped).

Q

Can I use "didn't" with was or were?

No, you should not use "didn't" with was or were. To make them negative, use wasn't (was not) or weren't (were not). For example, "She wasn't there, not She didn't was there."

Q

What time expressions are common with the Past Simple?

Common time expressions include yesterday, last week/month/year, two days ago, in 2020, or phrases like

when I was a child.
They help specify when the past event happened.

Cultural Context

Native English speakers use these Past Simple patterns constantly in daily conversation, especially when sharing stories or recounting events. Contractions like wasn't and weren't are very common in informal speech and writing, while the full forms (was not, were not) are more typical in formal contexts. Mastering these forms allows for natural flow in storytelling, whether you're describing your morning or a past vacation.
There aren't significant regional differences in the basic application of these rules, making them universally understood.

重要な例文 (8)

1

Last night, I was really tired after work.

昨夜、仕事の後で本当に疲れていました。

過去形: 動詞 'be' (was/were)
2

The coffee shop was very crowded this morning.

今朝、そのカフェはとても混んでいました。

過去形: 動詞 'be' (was/were)
3

Were you at the party last night?

昨日の夜、パーティーにいた？

過去形の疑問文：〜でしたか？ (Was/Were)
4

Was the coffee cold when it arrived?

コーヒーが届いた時、冷めてた？

過去形の疑問文：〜でしたか？ (Was/Were)
5

I wasn't ready for that pop quiz.

あの抜き打ちテストの準備ができていませんでした。

過去形否定: wasn't & weren't
6

The WiFi wasn't working yesterday, so I couldn't stream.

昨日Wi-Fiが繋がっていなかったので、動画が見られませんでした。

過去形否定: wasn't & weren't
7

Last night, I `watched` a new series on Netflix.

昨夜、Netflixで新しいシリーズを観ました。

過去形: 規則動詞 (-ed のルール)
8

My friend `called` me yesterday to share some exciting news.

昨日、友達から嬉しいお知らせの電話がありました。

過去形: 規則動詞 (-ed のルール)

ヒントとコツ (4)

💡

「You」のルールを忘れずに

相手が一人でも複数でも、「You」にはいつも「were」を使うんだ。だから「You were busy」は、一人でも複数でも正しいよ。「You were busy」
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 過去形: 動詞 'be' (was/were)
⚠️

「Did」の落とし穴

「Did」と「Was」または「Were」は、水と油のように混ざりません。一緒には使わないでくださいね。例:
Did you were happy?
は間違いです。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 過去形の疑問文：〜でしたか？ (Was/Were)
💡

主語との一致に気をつけよう

主語が単数（私、彼、彼女、それ）なら wasn't、複数（あなた、私たち、彼ら）なら weren't を使います。特に you は単数でも weren't なので注意してね。間違えると意味が伝わらないこともありますよ！"You weren't here."
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 過去形否定: wasn't & weren't
💡

「-ed」の音に耳を傾けてみよう！

「-ed」の終わり方は、直前の音によって /t/、/d/、/ɪd/ の３通りに変わるんだ。「walked」は「ウォークト」みたいに、「played」は「プレイディ」みたいに、「started」は「スターティッド」みたいに聞こえるよ。完璧な発音はまだ気にしなくても大丈夫だけど、音に気づき始めると聞く力が伸びるよ！
I walked to the park.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 過去形: 規則動詞 (-ed のルール)

重要な語彙 (6)

yesterday the day before today ago in the past visit to go see someone or a place study to learn or examine tired needing rest happy feeling joy

Real-World Preview

coffee

Discussing the Weekend

Review Summary

  • Subject + was/were + adjective/noun
  • Verb + ed
  • Action + time (yesterday/ago/last)

よくある間違い

You don't need 'was' with a regular verb. Just add -ed to the verb.

Wrong: I was walk yesterday.
正解: I walked yesterday.

When a verb ends in a consonant + y, change the y to i before adding -ed.

Wrong: She studyed hard.
正解: She studied hard.

In questions, the verb 'to be' comes before the subject.

Wrong: Where you was?
正解: Where were you?

このチャプターのルール (6)

1

過去形: 動詞 'be' (was/were)

A2
「was」と「were」をマスターして、過去の状態や場所を正確に表現しよう。「was」「were」「過去の状態」
Last night, I was really tired after work.
12 例文
2

過去形の疑問文：〜でしたか？ (Was/Were)

A2
「was」や「were」を主語の前に置くだけで、過去の「状態」や「場所」について質問できるんですよ。とっても簡単！
Were you at the party last night?
12 例文
3

過去形否定: wasn't & weren't

A2
wasn't と weren't は、昔の「状況」や「場所」について「〜ではなかった」と伝えるときに使う、便利な「過去の否定形」だよ。
I wasn't ready for that pop quiz.
12 例文
4

過去形: 規則動詞 (-ed のルール)

A2
「-ed」のルールをマスターすれば、過去の出来事をたくさん話せるようになるよ！これは君の «ストーリーテリング» スキルを大きく «レベルアップ» させるからね！
Last night, I `watched` a new series on Netflix.
11 例文
5

過去形綴り字規則 (-ed, -ied, -d)

A2
これらの「-ed」のつづり方を「マスター」すれば、過去形の動詞がいつも「完璧に正しい」見た目になりますよ！
Last night, I `watched` a really interesting docum...
10 例文
6

過去形の発信：yesterday, ago, last の使い方

A2
「いつ」行動したのかをしっかり伝える、過去形の時間表現は「時間のアンカー」だよ！yesterday last ago を使いこなそう。
I posted that photo three days ago.
12 例文

Next Steps

You have done a fantastic job! The past is no longer a mystery. Keep practicing these patterns in your daily life.

Write a diary entry for yesterday

Continue to: The Past: Irregular Actions and Questions

クイック練習 (10)

正しい文を選んでください

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: My friends weren't invited to the party.
My friends は複数の主語なので、weren't が正しいです。Didn't invited は文法的に間違いです。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 過去形否定: wasn't & weren't

規則動詞の過去形を正しく使っている文はどれですか？

正しい文を選んでください:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: They played football yesterday.
規則動詞「play」の過去形を作るには、「-ed」を付けます。「played」は過去に完了した行動の正しい形です。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 過去形: 規則動詞 (-ed のルール)

前置詞の間違いを見つけて直しましょう。

Find and fix the mistake:

I graduated on 2022.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I graduated in 2022.
年を表す時には、前置詞「in」を使います。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 過去形の発信：yesterday, ago, last の使い方

正しい規則動詞の過去形を選んでください。

Yesterday, she ___ to her favorite music for an hour.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: listened
規則動詞の過去形は、動詞の原形に「-ed」を付けます。「listened」は「listen」の正しい過去形です。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 過去形: 規則動詞 (-ed のルール)

正しい文を選びましょう

文法的に正しい質問を選びましょう:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Was he at the meeting?
「he」には「Was」が正しい形であり、疑問文では主語の前に置かれます。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 過去形の疑問文：〜でしたか？ (Was/Were)

be動詞の過去形の正しい形を選んでください。

She ___ a great student in high school.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: was
主語の「She」は単数だから、「was」を使うよ。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 過去形: 動詞 'be' (was/were)

正しい過去形のスペルが使われている文章を選びましょう。

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: We planned our trip last week.
「plan」は1音節のCVC動詞（子音-母音-子音）なので、-edをつける前に最後の「n」を重ねます。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 過去形綴り字規則 (-ed, -ied, -d)

正しい時間のことばを入れてみましょう。

I saw that movie two weeks ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ago
期間（two weeks）の後に「ago」を使って、「どれくらい前に起こったか」を示します。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 過去形の発信：yesterday, ago, last の使い方

正しい文を選びましょう。

「今日の前の晩」を自然に言うにはどれですか？

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I slept well last night.
英語では「yesterday night」とは言わず、常に「last night」を使います。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 過去形の発信：yesterday, ago, last の使い方

間違いを見つけて直してください

Find and fix the mistake:

We wasn't late for the flight.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: We weren't late for the flight.
We は複数の主語なので、weren't が必要です。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 過去形否定: wasn't & weren't

Score: /10

よくある質問 (6)

「was」と「were」は、be動詞の過去形だよ。過去の状態や状況、場所を説明するときに使うんだ。「I was happy」とか「They were at the park」みたいにね。
主語が単数（I, he, she, it、または「the dog」のような単数名詞）のときは「was」を使うよ。主語が複数（you, we, they、または「the dogs」のような複数名詞）のときは「were」を使うんだ。
いいえ、できません。「Was」と「Were」は動詞「to be」の過去形なので、これらを前に出すことで疑問文を作ります。「Did」は「go」や「eat」、「sleep」のような他の動詞のために使います。例:
Did you go there?
「you」には常に「were」を使います。たとえ一人の人に向かって話していても、標準英語では「were you」が唯一正しい形です。例:
Were you busy yesterday?
これらは be 動詞の過去形 (was と were) の否定形です。過去に「〜ではなかった」と伝える時に使いますよ。例えば「お腹が空いていませんでした」は: "I wasn't hungry."
主語によって変わります！単数の主語（私、彼、彼女、それ、または一つの人や物）には wasn't を、複数の主語（あなた、私たち、彼ら、または複数の人や物）には weren't を使います。例えば: "He wasn't here.« でも »They weren't here." となります。
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The Past: Irregular Actions and Questions
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