USE
 
We use the verb "be" in Past Simple when we want to
say who somebody was — He was Rob.
say what something was — That was my mobile phone.
say where somebody was from — They were from Ireland.
say how we felt — You were hungry.
say where somebody or something was — I was at school. My book was on the table.
describe somebody or something in past — They were clever. Your jacket was nice.
talk about people's jobs in past — My mother was a teacher.
talk about somebody's age in past — He was fifteen years old in 2015.
talk about somebody's health in past — Ann was ill.
talk about the weather in past — It was cold yesterday.
say that there was something somewhere in past — There were a lot of small shops in our town.
 
FORM
AFFIRMATIVE
Full form
I was
we were
you were
they were
he was
she was
it was
 
NEGATIVE
Full formShort form
I was notI wasn't
we were notwe weren't
you were notyou weren't
they were notthey weren't
he was nothe wasn't
she was notshe wasn't
it was notit wasn't
 
INTERROGATIVE
GENERAL QUESTIONS and SHORT ANSWERS
QuestionYesNo
Was I …?
Yes, I was.No, I wasn't.
Were we …?Yes, we were.No, we weren't.
Were you …?Yes, you were.No, you weren't.
Were they …?Yes, they were.No, they weren't.
Was he …?Yes, he was.No, he wasn't.
Was she …?Yes, she was.No, she wasn't.
Was it …?Yes, it was.No, it wasn't.
NOTE!
In short answers we use pronouns (I, we, you, they, he, she, it)
— Is Maria a teacher?
— No, she isn't.
(Not: No, Mary isn't.) 
SPECIAL QUESTIONS
(QW)was / wereS...?
WherewasIyesterday?
Wherewerewelast Monday?
Wherewereyoutwo days ago?
Whyweretheyhungry?
Whenwashesad?
Wherewasshefrom?
Whatwasit ?
 
***
S — Subject of the sentence
QW — Question word