Basic Details
Word: Was
Part of Speech: Verb
Meaning: The past tense of "is," meaning something existed or happened in the past.
Synonyms: Existed, occurred
Antonyms: Is, will be
Idioms and Phrases
- Wasn't born yesterday: Used to say that someone is not easily fooled or tricked. Example: "I know this sounds like a good deal, but I wasn't born yesterday."
- That was then: Used to indicate that the situation has changed from what it used to be. Example: "I used to love playing video games all day, but that was then; now I focus on my studies."
Usage Examples
Example 1: Yesterday, I was at the park with my friends enjoying the sunny weather.
Example 2: When I was a child, I loved to read adventure stories before bedtime.
Example 3: My favourite meal was spaghetti and meatballs, which my mother cooked every Sunday.
Fun Fact
The word "was" comes from the Old English word "ws," which means "to be." It has been used for many centuries and helps show that something happened in the past.
Famous Quote
"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God, which is why we call it the present." Bill Keane
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "was" mean?
a) The present form of be
b) A future form of be
c) The past tense of is
d) A type of flower
Answer: c) The past tense of is
2. Which of these is a synonym of "was"?
a) Will be
b) Existed
c) Is
d) Going
Answer: b) Existed
3. Which sentence uses "was" correctly?
a) He was running fast yesterday.
b) She is happy right now.
c) They will be there tomorrow.
d) I am learning to swim.
Answer: a) He was running fast yesterday.
4. Which idiom means the same as "was not born yesterday"?
a) That was then
b) Wasn't born yesterday
c) A picture is worth a thousand words
d) Breaking the ice
Answer: b) Wasn't born yesterday
5. What is the opposite of "was"?
a) Is
b) Were
c) Had
d) Wasn't
Answer: a) Is
