Past Simple: Negative with was/were

This grammar focuses on states and identities. It does not describe actions like running or eating. It describes a situation that was false. You are basically taking a positive fact and flipping it. If "I was happy" is a sunny day, "I wasn't happy" is a cloudy one. It acts like a bridge between the subject and a description. You don't need extra helping verbs like do or did. The verb be is strong enough to handle the negative on its own. It is like a self-sufficient traveler who doesn't need a map. You just add not and you are done.

1. 1Creating these sentences is like following a simple recipe. You only have two main choices based on the person you are talking about.
2. 2For Singular (I, He, She, It):
3. 3Use was + not. Most people say wasn't.
4. 4Example: I wasn't ready.
5. 5For Plural and You (You, We, They):
6. 6Use were + not. Most people say weren't.
7. 7Example: They weren't late.
8. 8The Shortcut (Contractions):
9. 9In real life, we almost always join the words. was not becomes wasn't. were not becomes weren't. It sounds more natural and less like a robot. Use the full version only if you want to be very dramatic. "I was NOT happy!" adds a lot of spice to your sentence.

You will use this pattern in almost every conversation. Here are some real-world spots where it shines:

• Weather Reports: "The weather wasn't great for the beach."
• Feelings: "I wasn't nervous about the job interview."
• Locations: "You weren't at the office when I called."
• Descriptions: "The hotel room wasn't as big as the photos."
• Job Interviews: "The last project wasn't a success, but I learned a lot."
• Ordering Food: "The soup wasn't hot enough, can you heat it up?"
• Asking Directions: "I wasn't sure which way to turn at the park."

This is where many people trip over. You should never use wasn't or weren't with action verbs. If there is another verb like go, eat, or work, you usually need didn't.

• Wrong: "I wasn't go to the party."
• Right: "I didn't go to the party."

Think of wasn't as a "status" word. It tells us *what* you were, not *what* you did. If you are describing a movie, use wasn't. If you are talking about watching the movie, use didn't. It’s like picking the right shoes for the right outfit.

Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes! The most common slip is using wasn't for everyone. Some people say "They wasn't there." This sounds very informal and is technically wrong.

• The "Didn't Be" Trap: You might want to say "I didn't be angry." This is a grammar crime! Remember, be is a superhero. It doesn't need did.
• The Spelling Slip: People sometimes forget the apostrophe. It is wasn't, not wasnt. That little mark matters!
• The You/Were Mix-up: Always use weren't with you. It doesn't matter if you are talking to one person or ten. "You wasn't" will make your English teacher cry.

How is wasn't different from didn't? Think of it like a grammar traffic light.

• The State (wasn't): Focuses on the person. "She wasn't a doctor."
• The Action (didn't): Focuses on the activity. "She didn't see the doctor."

One describes the noun. The other describes the movement. Also, don't confuse it with the present tense. Isn't is for now. Wasn't is for yesterday. If you say "I wasn't hungry," it means you are probably eating a giant burger right now!