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A2 — The Past: States and Regular Actions

A2 · 초중급 챕터 4

The Past: States and Regular Actions

Q: 'was'와 'were'의 주요 기능은 무엇인가요?

'was'와 'were'는 'to be' 동사의 과거형이에요. "I was happy"나 "They were at the park"처럼 과거에 존재했던 상태, 조건, 위치를 설명할 때 사용해요.

Q: "Was you"인가요, 아니면 "Were you"인가요?

'You' 앞에는 항상 'were'를 사용해요. 한 명에게 말할 때도, 표준 영어에서는 "Were you"가 유일하게 올바른 형태예요. "Were you busy?"가 맞아요.

6 총 규칙

69 예문

5 분

이 챕터의 규칙 빠른 연습

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.

배울 내용

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!

과거 단순 시제: 동사 'be' (was/were)
과거의 상태와 위치를 정확하게 말하려면 was와 were를 잘 활용하는 게 중요해요!
과거형 의문문: ~이었나요? (Was/Were)
과거에 어떤 상태였는지, 어디에 있었는지 물어볼 땐 주어 앞에 was나 were를 붙이면 돼요. 마치 «be동사» 의문문 만드는 것과 똑같죠!
과거 단순 부정: wasn't & weren't
wasn't랑 weren't는 과거에 '상태'나 '위치'를 부정할 때 쓰는 'be동사'의 '과거형'이에요.
과거 단순: 규칙 동사 (-ed 규칙)
규칙 동사에 '-ed'를 붙이는 방법을 알면, 과거의 수많은 이야기를 할 수 있는 «마법»이 생길 거예요! Past Simple, regular verbs, -ed rule!
과거 단순형 철자 규칙 (-ed, -ied, -d)
이 '-ed' spelling rules를 완벽하게 익히면 past simple verbs를 항상 perfectly correct하게 쓸 수 있을 거예요!
과거 시제 시간 표현: yesterday, ago, last
과거에 일어난 일을 정확히 언제 했는지 말해줄 때, 이 시간 표현들이 아주 중요해요! 마치 과거의 순간에 닻을 내리는 것처럼요. Past Simple Time expressions

Learning Objectives

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

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

챕터 가이드

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

They were at the library an hour ago.

To ask questions, simply put was or were before the subject:

Was he busy?

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,

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

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.

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.

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

How was your trip to the museum yesterday?

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

Were you busy last weekend?

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

Why weren't you at the meeting this morning?

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

Quick FAQ

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.

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).

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."

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.

주요 예문 (8)

Last night, I was really tired after work.

어젯밤에 퇴근하고 정말 피곤했어요.

과거 단순 시제: 동사 'be' (was/were)

The coffee shop was very crowded this morning.

오늘 아침 커피숍이 정말 붐볐어요.

과거 단순 시제: 동사 'be' (was/were)

Were you at the party last night?

어젯밤 파티에 있었어요?

과거형 의문문: ~이었나요? (Was/Were)

Was the coffee cold when it arrived?

커피가 도착했을 때 차가웠어요?

과거형 의문문: ~이었나요? (Was/Were)

I wasn't ready for that pop quiz.

나는 그 기습 퀴즈에 준비되지 않았어.

과거 단순 부정: wasn't & weren't

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

어제 와이파이가 안 돼서 스트리밍을 할 수 없었어요.

과거 단순 부정: wasn't & weren't

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

어젯밤에 넷플릭스에서 새 드라마를 봤어요.

과거 단순: 규칙 동사 (-ed 규칙)

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

친구가 어제 신나는 소식을 전해주려고 전화했어요.

과거 단순: 규칙 동사 (-ed 규칙)

팁과 요령 (4)

💡

'You' 규칙 기억하기!

친구 한 명에게 말하든 여러 명에게 말하든, 'you'는 과거 시제에서 항상 'were'와 함께 써요. You were busy처럼요!

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 과거 단순 시제: 동사 'be' (was/were)

⚠️

'Did' 함정 조심!

'Did'는 'was'나 'were'와는 절대 함께 쓰면 안 돼요. 마치 물과 기름처럼 섞이지 않는답니다! 꼭 기억하세요. Was she happy?

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 과거형 의문문: ~이었나요? (Was/Were)

💡

주어와 동사 일치!

주어가 '나', '그', '그녀', '그것'처럼 하나일 때는 wasn't를, '너희', '우리', '그들'처럼 여러 개일 때는 weren't를 써야 해요. 이걸 헷갈리면 안 돼요! "She wasn't here« (그녀는 여기 없었어요) 와 »They weren't here" (그들은 여기 없었어요) 처럼요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 과거 단순 부정: wasn't & weren't

💡

'-ed' 소리에 귀 기울여보세요!

'-ed'는 동사 뒤에 오는 소리에 따라 /t/, /d/, 또는 /ɪd/로 소리 날 수 있어요. 예를 들어, 'walked'는 'walkt'처럼, 'played'는 'playd'처럼, 'started'는 'start-id'처럼 들리죠. 지금 완벽하게 발음하려고 너무 스트레스 받지 않아도 괜찮지만, 소리를 알아차리면 듣기 실력에 도움이 될 거예요!

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 과거 단순: 규칙 동사 (-ed 규칙)

핵심 어휘 (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)

자주 하는 실수

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

Wrong: I was walk yesterday.

정답: I walked yesterday.

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

Wrong: She studyed hard.

정답: She studied hard.

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

Wrong: Where you was?

정답: Where were you?

이 챕터의 규칙 (6)

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

빠른 연습 (10)

실수를 찾아 고치세요.

Find and fix the mistake:

She studyed for her exam all night.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She studied for her exam all night.

동사가 자음 + 'y'로 끝날 때('study'처럼), 'y'는 '-ed'를 붙이기 전에 'i'로 바뀌어요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 과거 단순형 철자 규칙 (-ed, -ied, -d)

문법적으로 올바른 문장을 고르세요.

Choose the grammatically correct question:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Was he at the meeting?

'he'에 대한 올바른 형태는 'Was'이고, 질문에서는 주어 앞에 와야 해요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 과거형 의문문: ~이었나요? (Was/Were)

문장에서 틀린 부분을 찾아 고치세요.

Find and fix the mistake:

My friends was at the party last night.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: My friends were at the party last night.

주어 'My friends'는 복수이므로 'was'가 아닌 'were'를 사용해야 합니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 과거 단순 시제: 동사 'be' (was/were)

과거형 'to be' 동사의 올바른 형태를 선택하세요.

She ___ a great student in high school.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: was

주어 'She'는 단수이므로 'was'를 씁니다.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 과거 단순 시제: 동사 'be' (was/were)

실수 부분을 찾아 고치세요.

Find and fix the mistake:

Where did you were last night?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Where were you last night?

올바른 구조는 'Wh-단어 + were + you'입니다. 'be' 동사와 함께 'Did'는 사용하지 않아요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 과거형 의문문: ~이었나요? (Was/Were)

올바른 영어 문장을 입력하세요.

Translate into English: 'Ella estudió mucho para el examen.'

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She studied hard for the exam., She studied a lot for the exam.

'estudió'는 영어로 과거 단순 시제인 'studied'로 번역돼요. 'Mucho'는 'hard' 또는 'a lot'이 될 수 있어요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 과거 단순: 규칙 동사 (-ed 규칙)

실수를 찾아 고치세요.

We didn't watched the whole movie.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: We didn't watch the whole movie.

부정 과거 단순 시제 문장에서 'didn't'를 사용할 때는 주동사가 '-ed'가 아닌 동사원형이어야 해요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 과거 단순: 규칙 동사 (-ed 규칙)

빈칸에 알맞은 시간 표현을 채워 넣으세요.

I saw that movie two weeks ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ago

'ago'는 일정 기간(two weeks) 뒤에 붙여서 얼마나 오래전에 일어났는지 나타낼 때 사용해요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 과거 시제 시간 표현: yesterday, ago, last

전치사 오류를 찾아 고치세요.

Find and fix the mistake:

I graduated on 2022.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: I graduated in 2022.

연도를 말할 때는 전치사 'in'을 사용해요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 과거 시제 시간 표현: yesterday, ago, last

빈칸을 채우세요.

___ you at the library yesterday?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Were

주어 'you'에 대한 과거 단순 질문에는 'were'를 사용해요.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 과거형 의문문: ~이었나요? (Was/Were)

Score: /10

자주 묻는 질문 (6)

'was'와 'were'는 'to be' 동사의 과거형이에요. I was happy나

They were at the park

처럼 과거에 존재했던 상태, 조건, 위치를 설명할 때 사용해요.

'I, he, she, it'이나 'the dog'처럼 단수 주어에는 'was'를 사용해요. 'you, we, they'나 'the dogs'처럼 복수 주어에는 'were'를 사용합니다.

아니요, 그렇게 말할 수 없어요. 'Was'와 'Were'는 'to be' 동사의 과거형이고, 이 자체로 질문을 만들어요. 'Did'는 'go', 'eat', 'sleep' 같은 다른 일반 동사에 사용해요. Did you go?는 되지만,

Did you were happy?

는 틀려요.

'You' 앞에는 항상 'were'를 사용해요. 한 명에게 말할 때도, 표준 영어에서는 Were you가 유일하게 올바른 형태예요. Were you busy?가 맞아요.

이건 'was'와 'were' (be동사의 과거형)의 부정형이에요. 과거에 어떤 것이 '아니었다'고 말할 때 사용하죠. 예를 들어, "I wasn't hungry" (나는 배고프지 않았어요) 처럼요.

주어에 따라 달라져요! '나', '그', '그녀', '그것'처럼 단수 주어에는 wasn't를 쓰고, '너', '우리', '그들'처럼 복수 주어에는 weren't를 사용해요. 예를 들어, "He wasn't here« (그는 여기 없었어요) 지만 »They weren't here" (그들은 여기 없었어요) 처럼요.