Step-by-step English Level 2 · Tricky words: said, so, do, have, like, some, come, were, what, when · Lesson 8.4

Step-by-step English Level 2: come and were

Part of the Step-by-step English Level 2 tricky words: said, so, do, have, like, some, come, were, what, when chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page

8.4

come and were

Level 2
Read come and were on sight, Tell apart were and where

The word come is a tricky word. It is read as /kum/, with a short u sound. The e is silent.

The word were is a tricky word. It has a silent e too. It is not the same as where, which asks a place.

Read the whole sentence and ask: is this about a place, or about the past?

Key ideas

come is read on sight: /kum/.
were is read on sight: it is the past of are.
where asks about a place.

Worked example 8.4.1

Choose the word that completes the sentence: Please ______ here now. A came B come C some Choose A, B or C.

Method. Read the sentence with each choice in the gap.

Read the sentence with the gap. Think about what the sentence needs.
Please ______ here now.
Read each choice in the gap. Only one choice makes sense.
came / come / some
Pick the word that fits. come means move towards the speaker.
come fits
Write the answer.
B

Check. Read the sentence with come in the gap. It makes sense. ✓

Watch out. Read the whole sentence with your choice in the gap.

Worked example 8.4.2

Choose the word that completes the sentence: They ______ at home. A were B where C wore Choose A, B or C.

Method. Read the sentence with each choice in the gap.

Read the sentence with the gap. Think about what the sentence needs.
They ______ at home.
Read each choice in the gap. Only one choice makes sense.
were / where / wore
Pick the word that fits. were is the past of are, used with they.
were fits
Write the answer.
A

Check. Read the sentence with were in the gap. It makes sense. ✓

Watch out. Read the whole sentence with your choice in the gap.

Worked example 8.4.3

Choose the word that completes the sentence: ______ are you going? A Were B Come C Where Choose A, B or C.

Method. Read the sentence with each choice in the gap.

Read the sentence with the gap. Think about what the sentence needs.
______ are you going?
Read each choice in the gap. Only one choice makes sense.
Were / Come / Where
Pick the word that fits. Where asks about a place.
Where fits
Write the answer.
C

Check. Read the sentence with Where in the gap. It makes sense. ✓

Watch out. Read the whole sentence with your choice in the gap.

Watch out

Watch out: were and where look alike, but one asks about a place. Read the whole sentence.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Ask the child: "Is it about a place?" If yes, the answer is where. Otherwise the answer is were.

Exercise 8D Practice: come and were

FRead the word on the card: come. Which word is the same? A came B some C come Choose A, B or C.

Done

FRead the word on the card: were. Which word is the same? A were B where C wore Choose A, B or C.

Done

FChoose the word that completes the sentence: We ______ at the park yesterday. A come B were C where Choose A, B or C.

Done

FChoose the word that completes the sentence: Can you ______ to my party? A come B came C some Choose A, B or C.

Done

FWhich word asks about a place? Choose were, where or wore. A wore B where C were Choose A, B or C.

Done

FChoose the word that completes the sentence: The children ______ happy. A come B where C were Choose A, B or C.

Done

FChoose the word that completes the sentence: I will ______ with you. A came B some C come Choose A, B or C.

Done

FChoose the word that completes the sentence: ______ is my hat? A Were B Come C Where Choose A, B or C.

Done

FChoose the word that completes the sentence: The ducks ______ on the pond. A come B where C were Choose A, B or C.

Done