Where Were You Yesterday?
Past experiences with was / were. Maya tells Leo about her weekend trip to Niagara Falls with Jess — incredible, cold, windy, magnificent.
📖 Reading: Maya's Weekend Trip
Last weekend, Maya was not in Toronto. She was in Niagara Falls with Jess, who came to visit.
They were at the falls on Saturday morning. It was incredible. The water was loud and powerful.
"Was it cold?" asks Leo on Monday.
"Yes! It was very cold and windy. But it was beautiful," says Maya.
"Were there many tourists?" asks Leo.
"Yes, there were hundreds of people! It was very busy. But the falls were magnificent," says Maya.
"Were you scared? The water is so powerful!" says Leo.
"A little! But mostly I was amazed. It was one of the best experiences of my life."
"I was there three years ago with my family," says Leo. "It was wonderful. We were so happy."
🔑 Vocabulary Box
Eight key words from this lesson.
| Word | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| falls | A place where water falls from a high place; a waterfall | n. — They were at the falls on Saturday. |
| powerful | Having great strength or force | adj. — The water was loud and powerful. |
| magnificent | Extremely beautiful and impressive | adj. — The falls were magnificent. |
| amazed | Very surprised and impressed | adj. — I was amazed by the view. |
| tourist | A person who visits a place for pleasure | n. — There were hundreds of tourists. |
| incredible | So good or unusual that it is hard to believe | adj. — It was incredible. |
| experience | Something that happens to you and affects you | n. — It was the best experience of her life. |
| ago | In the past, measured from now | adv. — Leo was there three years ago. |
📚 Key Verbs in This Lesson | |
was (I/he/she/it) | It was cold. / She was amazed. / I was there. |
were (you/we/they) | They were at the falls. / There were many tourists. |
was/were not | It wasn't hot. / They weren't scared. |
Was/Were...? (questions) | Was it cold? / Were there many tourists? |
📚 Grammar Focus
📚 Was / Were — Past Simple of "To Be" | |
I / He / She / It → was | I was in Toronto. / It was cold. |
You / We / They → were | They were at the falls. / We were happy. |
Negative: wasn't / weren't | It wasn't hot. / They weren't scared. |
Question: Was / Were...? | Was it cold? / Were there many tourists? |
Short answer | Yes, it was. / No, it wasn't. / Yes, there were. |
Past Time Expressions
📚 Past Time Expressions | |
yesterday | I was at home yesterday. |
last week / last weekend | She was in Niagara Falls last weekend. |
last month / last year | We were in Mexico last year. |
[number] + ago | Leo was there three years ago. |
🎭 Dialogue: Where Were You Last Weekend?
Leo asks Maya where she was — she explains she went to Niagara Falls with Jess. Leo shares that he was there three years ago.
Maya! You weren't at class on Friday. Where were you?
I was in Niagara Falls with Jess! It was incredible!
Really? Was it your first time there?
Yes! It was amazing. Were you ever there?
Yes, I was there three years ago with my family. It was wonderful!
Wasn't it cold in winter?
It was freezing! But it was so beautiful. Were there many tourists?
Yes, there were hundreds! But it was worth it.
Practice Exercises
3 questionsNew exercises to reinforce what you learned. Different from the lesson material.
Where was Maya last weekend?
What was the weather like at Niagara Falls?
Were there many tourists?
Practice Exercises
3 questionsNew exercises to reinforce what you learned. Different from the lesson material.
Maya ___ in Toronto last weekend.
The falls ___ beautiful and powerful.
It ___ warm — it was very cold and windy. (negative)
🎭 Now It's Your Turn — Role Play
Practice with a partner. Use the dialogue as a model.
- Student A: Tell your partner about a trip or event from your past (real or imaginary).
- Student B: Ask questions using was/were: Was it…? Were there…? Where were you? What was it like?
- Use past time expressions: last weekend, last year, two years ago, etc.