They are popular.
过去： was, w are
be 动词
将来： will be
进行： being
.
e.g.
e.g.
时间状语巧 ：表示过去的短语要记牢；
形式巧 ：单数was，复数were；
否定句结构巧 ：
not紧跟was / were；
疑问句式巧 ：
Let’s start with a story
Once upon a time, there was a girl named Snow White.
In her kingdom, many people were familiar with her because she was the most beautiful
was & were Question: Do you notice the word “
”?
Why do we use “was & were” here?
1. be动词表达意义
be动词的一般过去时态表示人或物在过去 情况或存在的状态。
E.g. 1. Jim was thirteen last year. 2. They were busy yesterday.
and lovely girl in the world.
One day,
she was given a big, red apple and ate it…
However, today we will focus on the grammar in the story, but not the story itself.
Let’s see the sentences in the story:
1. Once, there was a girl named Snow White. 2. In her kingdom, many people were familiar with her because she was the most beautiful and lovely girl in the world. 3. One day, she was given a big, red apple and ate it…
was / were向前跑（提前）。
15
5.1 be动词的一般过去时的用法
am , is ——过去式 was 否定式 was not / wasn’t are 过去式 were 否定式 were not /weren’t
5.2 be动词的一般过去时的结构
1. 肯定句：主语+谓语动词的过去式+其他 2. 否定句：主语+was/were+not+其他 3. 一般疑问句：Was/Were+主语+其他？
A diagram may help to illustrate the problem:
The things happened in the past.
The Simple Past Tense
past
now
future
Note:
在英语中，时间的变化是由动词变化体现 出来的
One more example: They were popular.