Question 1
There _____ more than forty people at the meeting.
People is plural, so we use were: There were forty people. Not was, because was goes with one thing.
Question 2
(A) How old _____ you last year?
(B) I _____ twenty years old.
We say you were and I was. So: How old were you? and I was twenty.
Question 3
(A) Where _____ Tom last night?
(B) He _____ at home.
Tom is one person (he), so we use was both times: Where was Tom? and He was at home.
Question 4
The bus was late, so Alex and Sam _____ also late for class this morning.
Alex and Sam means two people (they), so we use were. The bus was late, so they were late too, not weren't.
Question 5
(A) Were you sick last week?
(B) No, I _____.
In the answer we talk about I, so we use was: No, I wasn't. Not weren't, because we never say I weren't.
Question 6
(A) _____ Maria here an hour ago?
(B) Yes, she was.
Maria is one person (she), so the question starts with Was: Was Maria here? The answer she was also shows this.
Question 7
I’m a teacher now, but I _____ a student in 2015.
In 2015 is in the past, and with I we use was: I was a student in 2015. Not am, because that is now.
Question 8
We had a great time at the party. It _____ lots of fun.
The party is in the past (We had), and it takes was: It was lots of fun. Not is, because the party is over.
Question 9
My friend and I _____ at the library yesterday afternoon.
My friend and I means two people (we), so we use were: We were at the library.
Question 10
Where did you go on the weekend? Why _____ you at home?
With you we use were or weren't. The person went somewhere, so they were not at home: Why weren't you at home?
Question 11
Cathy is a police officer now, but she _____ a pilot last year.
Last year is in the past, and with she we use was: She was a pilot last year. Not is, because she is a police officer now.
Question 12
(A) Where _____ you born?
(B) I _____ born in Peru.
We say Where were you born? and I was born in Peru. Use were with you and was with I.
Question 13
That movie _____ really funny! I laughed all night!
That movie is one thing, so we use was. The speaker laughed a lot, so the movie was funny, not wasn't.
Question 14
I thought the cookies _____ delicious, so I ate six of them!
Cookies is plural, so we use were. The speaker ate six, so they were delicious, not weren't.
Question 15
There _____ nothing I could do, so I asked for help.
Nothing is singular, so we use There was nothing. Not wasn't, because nothing is already negative, so wasn't nothing is wrong.
Question 16
Our science teacher said that some dinosaurs _____ huge.
Dinosaurs is plural, and they lived long ago, so we use were: Some dinosaurs were huge. Not are, because dinosaurs don't live today.
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