# wasn't

CEFR A1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/wasnt
Updated: 2026-05-03

## Definition

the short way to write or say 'was not'. You use it to talk about something in the past that was not true or did not happen.

For teachers: the contracted form of 'was not', consisting of the past tense of 'be' and the negative particle 'not'. Used with first-person and third-person singular subjects.

## Examples

- He wasn't at home when I called him.
- The weather wasn't as warm as we expected, so we decided to stay inside and watch a movie.
- Although the initial report suggested the project was on track, it soon became clear that the budget wasn't sufficient to cover the rising costs of raw materials.

## Pitfalls

- Not "They wasn't happy." but "They weren't happy." — 'Wasn't' is only for singular subjects; plural subjects and 'you' require 'weren't'.

## Usage notes

- Used with the pronouns 'I', 'he', 'she', 'it' and singular nouns. In formal writing, the full form 'was not' is generally preferred.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.