文法ガイド

それは何ですか？

to be の過去形は was と were です。

was は以下の主語と一緒に使います：

• I
• he
• she
• it

were は以下の主語と一緒に使います：

• you
• we
• they

例：

• I was tired.
• She was at home.
• We were busy.
• They were happy.

否定形は was not と were not です。

一般的な短縮形は以下の通りです：

• was not → wasn’t
• were not → weren’t

いつ使うか

to be の過去形は以下のことを話すときに使います：

• 過去の状態：I was tired.
• 過去の感情：She was nervous.
• 過去の場所：They were at school.
• 過去の年齢：He was ten years old.
• 過去の描写：The room was small.
• 過去の状況：We were very busy.
• 過去の日付と時刻：It was Monday.

構造

肯定文

構造：

主語 + was/were + 補語

• He was tired.
• We were late.

否定文

構造：

主語 + was not/were not + 補語

• I wasn’t hungry.
• They weren’t ready.

疑問文

構造：

Was/Were + 主語 + 補語?

• Was she at home?
• Were they tired?
• Were you busy?

短い答え

• Was he late? — Yes, he was.
• Was she tired? — No, she wasn’t.
• Were they at school? — Yes, they were.
• Were you busy? — No, I wasn’t.

例

1. I was very tired yesterday.
2. She was at the office this morning.
3. He wasn’t ready for the meeting.
4. It was cold last night.
5. We were happy with the result.
6. You were very quiet yesterday.
7. They weren’t at home.
8. Was your brother at school?
9. Were the shops open?
10. Where were you last weekend?

例外

I、he、she、it を使う一部の形式的または非現実的な表現では、was の代わりに were を使います。

• If I were you, I would wait.
• I wish she were here.

非公式な英語では、これらの表現で was が使われることもありますが、標準的な形は were です。

よくある間違い

1. 誤り： I were tired yesterday. 正しい： I was tired yesterday. 説明： I には was を使います。

2. 誤り： They was at home. 正しい： They were at home. 説明： they には were を使います。

3. 誤り： She didn’t be happy. 正しい： She wasn’t happy. 説明： to be の過去形では didn’t を使いません。

4. 誤り： Did he was at work? 正しい： Was he at work? 説明： was や were を使った疑問文では did を使いません。

5. 誤り： We wasn’t ready. 正しい： We weren’t ready. 説明： we には weren’t を使います。

6. 誤り： Were she at school? 正しい： Was she at school? 説明： she には was を使います。

7. 誤り： I was not at home? 正しい： Was I not at home? 説明： 疑問文を作るには、was を主語の前に置きます。

8. 誤り： They were not tired? 正しい： Weren’t they tired? 説明： 疑問文では、were または weren’t を主語の前に置きます。