Category: Grammar

  • How to Ask Questions in the Simple Past Tense – A Practical Guide for ESL Learners

    How to Ask Questions in the Simple Past Tense – A Practical Guide for ESL Learners

    Asking Questions in the Simple Past Tense

    Have you ever asked someone, “What did you do yesterday?” or “Did you watch that movie?”
    These are questions in the simple past! We use them to ask about things that already happened — usually yesterday, last week, or at another time in the past. Before jumping into this lesson, review our guide on asking Yes/No questions in the simple present.

    ⚠️ Remember! We use did to form most questions in the simple past.

    Yes/No Questions in the Simple Past

    Did + subject + base form of the verb + other information?

    ✅ Examples:

    Did I pass the grammar test?

    Did you watch TV last night?

    Did he score a goal yesterday?

    Did she call you yesterday?

    Did it rain last week?

    Did they go to the concert?

    Did we have any homework in class this morning?

    Did Regina take piano lessons when she was a child?

    Did Diego and Frida paint together?

    👉 Notice that after did, the main verb returns to its base form (no -ed!).

    WH- Questions in the Simple Past

    When you want more information (not just yes/no), use a Wh-  word (who, what, where, when, why, or how) before did.

    Wh- Word + did + subject + base form + other information?

    ✅ Examples:

    What did I make on the assignment?

    What did you make for dinner last night?

    Where did he travel last summer?

    Who did she go to the movies with on Saturday?

    Why did it take so long to drive to class?

    When did they arrive?

    When did we start class?

    How did you learn English?

    Who did Karina meet at the mall?

    Why did the dogs bark all night?

    Be Verb Questions in the Past (was / were)

    With questions in the past with a Be verb, you do not use did. Instead, you use was or were.

    Yes/No Questions in the Simple Past

    • We use was with the following subjects:

                        I, He, She, It, and Singular Nouns.

    ✅ Examples:

    Was I your favorite teacher?

    Was he your boyfriend in high school?

    Was she tired after class?

    Was it hot last weekend?

    Was Maria in your grammar class?

    • We use were with the following subjects:

                        You, They, We, and Plural Subjects

    ✅ Examples:

    Were you at school yesterday?

    Were they in Mexico last weekend?

    Were we loud last night?

    Were your keys in your coat?

    Wh- Questions in the Simple Past

    ✅ Examples:

    Where was I last night?

    When was he in your class? 

    Why was she late to class?

    How was it?

    How was the food at Taco Bell?

    Where were you yesterday?

    What were they doing at the park?

    What were we studying in the last class?

    What were Luis and Karina eating for dinner?

    🚫 Common Mistakes to Avoid

    ❌ Where did she went?
    ✅ Where did she go?

    ❌ Was you happy yesterday?
    ✅ Were you happy yesterday?

    👉 Remember! After did, always use the base form (go, eat, study).
    Never say did went or did ate.

    Let’s Practice!

    Exercise A

    Complete each question with the correct word.
    Use did, was, or were.

    1. ______ you go to the store yesterday?
    2. What ______ you eat for breakfast?
    3. ______ she call you last night?
    4. Where ______ they travel last summer?
    5. ______ you tired after class yesterday?
    6. When ______ he finish his homework?
    7. ______ it cold yesterday morning?
    8. Who ______ you talk to after school?
    9. ______ your friends play soccer last weekend?
    10. Why ______ she cry during the movie?

    Exercise B

    Read each sentence carefully. Find and correct the mistake.

    1. Did you went to school yesterday?
    2. Where did she went on vacation?
    3. Did he studied for the test?
    4. What did you ate for dinner last night?
    5. Was you at the party yesterday?
    6. Did they was late for class?
    7. Where were she yesterday?
    8. Did your brother plays soccer last weekend?
    9. Why did she cryed after the movie?
    10. Did we are in the same class last year?
    Check Your Answers

    Scoring and Feedback

    🔵 17 – 20 Correct

    Excellent work! 🎉You really understand how to make questions in the simple past. Keep using it in your everyday conversations and writing.

    🟢 14 – 16 Correct

    Great job! ✅ You have a good understanding of how to make questions in the simple past. Review the ones you missed.

    🟡 12 – 13 Correct

    Good effort! 💪You’re learning, and that’s what matters. Take a moment to review the examples and do the quiz again.

    🔴 0 – 11 Correct

    No worries! 🌱 Questions in the simple past can be tricky at first. Go back and review the examples in the lesson.

    📚 Want more reading, writing, listening, and speaking practice? Check out the Essential English series on Amazon!

    Remember! Learning a language is not about perfection—it’s about progress.

    Asking questions in the simple past helps you connect with people and share experiences.
    Practice every day — ask your friends what they did yesterday or where they went last weekend. The more you ask, the more natural your English will sound!

    Leave a comment below!

    And remember . . . Practice, Practice, Practice!!!!!

  • English Grammar for Beginners: How to Use Be Verbs in the Present Tense

    English Grammar for Beginners: How to Use Be Verbs in the Present Tense

    Be verbs are small but powerful words in English! We use am, is, and are to describe people, places, and things in the present tense. For example, we say I am a student, She is happy, or They are in class.
    In this lesson, you’ll learn how to use be verbs correctly, avoid common mistakes, and sound more natural when speaking English. Don’t forget to request your free Be Verbs Practice PDF at the end of this post to keep improving your grammar and pronunciation!

    Be Verbs – Subject-Verb Agreement   

    The Be verb must agree with the subject to make the sentence correct (Subject-Verb Agreement)

    There are three forms for Be verbs in the present tense:

    1. Am     

    We use ‘am’ with the subject pronoun I. 

    This form is for statements about oneself.

    I am on the first floor.              

    I am next to the desk.     

    I am excited.

    2. Is    

    We use ‘is’ with the subject pronouns he, she, it, and singular nouns.

    This form is used to talk about one person or thing.

    The teacher is between John and Bobby.  She is intelligent.

    The trash can is under the desk. It is empty.

    John is sleepy. He is tired. 

    3.  Are            

    We use ‘are’ with the subject pronouns you, we, they, and plural nouns.

    This form is used to talk about more than one person or thing.  

    The notebooks are in the drawer.  They are new.

    The pens are on the table. They are black.

    Alejandra and I are under the projector. We are nervous.

    💡 Tip! If you need a refresher on subject pronouns, check out our complete guide on subject pronouns.

    Be Verbs – Structure   

    We use the following structure for affirmative statements

    SubjectBe Verb (am, is, are)Other Information
    Iamhappy.

    We use the following structure for negative statements

    SubjectBe Verb (am, is, are)notOther Information
    Heisnota student.

    We use the following structure for Yes/No questions.

    Be Verb (am, is, are)Subject + fromLocation
    Aretheystudents?

    We use the following structure for short answers

    Yes/No,SubjectBe Verb (am, is, are) + (not)
    Yes,sheis.
    No,theyare not.

    We use the following structure for Wh- questions

    Wh- WordBe Verb (am, is, are)Subject
    Whereisthe coffee shop?

    When do we use Be verbs?  

    1. With an adjective to describe someone or something

    Adjectives can come after the Be Verb.  They describe the subject.       

    Alejandra is pretty.

    The adjective ‘pretty’ describes the subject ‘Alejandra.’

    The homework is easy.

    The adjective ‘easy’ describes the subject ‘The homework.’

    Grammar exams are difficult.

    The adjective ‘difficult’ describes the subject ‘grammar exams.’

    They are friendly.

    The adjective ‘friendly’ describes the subject pronoun ‘They.’

    2. With a noun to classify the subject                    

    Mary is a teacher.

    You are a student. (singular)  You are students. (plural)

    They are friends.

    We are students.

    3. With physical or emotional states

    My books are heavy. (physical state)

    She is tired. (physical state)

    They are happy. (emotional state)

    We are excited. (emotional state)

    4. To Talk about the Weather. Use “It” as the subject when talking about the weather.

    It is hot in Merida.

    It is sunny today.

    It is cold in New York City in December.

    5. To Talk about the Time. Use “It” as the subject when talking about time.

    It is 9:00AM.It is in the morning.
    It is midnight.It is in the afternoon.
    It is noon.It is at night.

    6. To Talk about the Day, Month, or Season. Use “It” as the subject when talking about the day or the date.

    It is Saturday.It is the weekend.
    It is August.It is summer.
    It is October.It is fall.
    It is December.It is winter.
    It is March.It is spring.

    7. Use a Be verb with a location

    My sisters are in Dallas.

    The restaurant is on San Pedro Ave.

    My parents are at 1704 Maberry St.

    Shakira and I are from Colombia.

    Contractions with Be Verbs

    Contractions are used for casual speech and informal writing.

    Contractions combine two words.  The apostrophe (’) replaces the letter removed from the Be verb.           

    In affirmative statements with Be verbs, we can combine a subject pronoun and a form of the Be verb.

    Full FormContraction
    I amI’m
    You areYou’re
    He isHe’s
    She isShe’s
    It isIt’s
    We areWe’re
    They areThey’re

    We can also combine a singular subject and the Be verb ‘is’ to form a contraction. We replace the letter ‘i’ with an apostrophe (’)

    Full FormContraction
    The book is on the table.The book’s on the table.
    John is late. John’s late.
    The teacher is nice.The teacher’s nice.
    The computer is in my backpack.The computer’s in my backpack.
    ⚠️ Remember! You cannot contract a plural noun and the Be verb ‘are’.

    ✅ The markers are on the table.

    In negative statements with Be verbs, there are two ways to make contractions.

    1. Contract the subject pronoun and the Be verb or a singular subject and ‘is’

    Full FormContraction
    I am not at home.I’m not at home.
    He is not a student.He’s not a student.
    She is not a teacher. She’s not a teacher.
          It is not on the desk.       It’s not on the desk.
    We are not in the cafeteria.We’re not in the cafeteria.
    They are not on the second floor.They’re not on the second floor. 
          Alejandra is not in class.      Alejandra’s not in class.
    ⚠️ Remember! The apostrophe (‘) replaces the letter removed from the Be verb or the singular subject.

    2. Contract the Be verb and the negative.

    Full FormContraction
    He is not a student.He isn’t a student.
    She is not a teacher. She isn’t a teacher.
    It is not on the desk. It isn’t on the desk.
    We are not in the cafeteria.We aren’t in the cafeteria.
    They are not on the second floor.They aren’t on the second floor. 
    Alejandra is not in class today.Alejandra isn’t in class today.

    There is only one form for “I am not.” 

    You contract the subject pronoun ‘I’ and the Be verb ‘am’.     

    I am  ✅  I’m

    You cannot contract am and not  ❌  amn’t         

    I am not  ✅  I’m not    

    ✅  I’m not in the language lab.

    🔊 Practice! Improve your English pronunciation of contractions with this free online practice tool!
    English pronunciation of contractions.
    ⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

    ❌ She happy.
    ✅ She is happy.

    ❌ They is at school.
    ✅ They are at school.

    ❌ I amn’t tired.
    ✅ I’m not tired.

    ❌ Where you are from?
    ✅ Where are you from?

    ❌ He’s teacher.
    ✅ He’s a teacher.

    📘 Get More Practice!

    Want extra exercises to master am, is, and are?
    Request your free Be Verbs Practice PDF

    Fill out the short form below!

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    📚 Want more reading, writing, listening, and speaking practice? Check out the Essential English series on Amazon!

    Remember! Learning a language is not about perfection—it’s about progress. Keep practicing, stay curious, and trust the process. You are moving beyond English to more opportunities, connections, and self-expression!

    Leave a comment below!

    And remember . . . Practice, Practice, Practice!!!!!

  • Discover a Better Way to Learn English – The Essential English Series

    Discover a Better Way to Learn English – The Essential English Series

    Learning English doesn’t have to be confusing or overwhelming. The Essential English series from Beyond English™ was created to help beginners build confidence step by step — with clear grammar explanations, everyday vocabulary, and engaging practice for real communication. Each book in the Essential English series has online resources to practice pronunciation, listening and speaking.

    Whether you’re just starting your English journey or teaching others to do the same, this series gives you everything you need to improve your reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills in one place. Each book is designed for self-study or classroom use, guiding learners through real-world topics and practical exercises that make English both clear and enjoyable.

    If you’re ready to take your English to the next level, explore the Essential English series below — available now on Amazon Kindle.

    Essential English Series

    Level 1 * Book 1

    This book introduces important building blocks of English grammar and communication. You will learn how to describe where things are, form simple sentences using subject pronouns and be verbs, and make both positive and negative statements. This book also has links which provide extra pronunciation, listening, and speaking practice.

    See what’s inside Essential English Level 1 – Book 1

    Essential English: Level 1 – Book 1 cover. Blue background with Scrabble-style letter tiles spelling out the title. Designed for ESL beginners, the book focuses on prepositions of place, be verbs, reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills.

    Level 1 * Book 2

    This book introduces important building blocks of English grammar and communication. You will learn how to describe where things are, ask and answer Yes/No questions using Be verbs. This book also has links which provide extra pronunciation, listening, and speaking practice.

    See what’s inside Essential English Level 1 – Book 2

    Cover of Essential English – Level 1 Book 2, ESL textbook for beginners, teaching people and places vocabulary, prepositions of place, yes/no questions and short answers.

    Level 1 * Book 3

    This book introduces important building blocks of English grammar and communication. You will learn how to describe where things are and ask and answer Wh- questions using Wh- words (What, Where, When, Why, Who, and How). This book also has links which provide extra pronunciation, listening, and speaking practice.

    Essential English: Level 1 – Book 3 cover. Blue background with Scrabble-style letter tiles spelling out the title. Designed for ESL beginners, the book focuses on prepositions of place, be verbs, reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills.