The pattern

"How was" plus a noun asks about something that already happened. "How was your weekend?" "How was the trip?" "How was the interview?" It is the most common Monday-morning question in any office, and the most common question when someone comes back from anywhere.

The answer is where learners stall. "Good" is fine, but it ends the conversation. Give an adjective and one detail: "Great, we went hiking near the lake." And ask it back: "How was yours?" With a plural, it becomes "How were": "How were the kids?"

Say it out loud

Tap a sentence to hear it. Say it after the voice.

  6. Plural noun, "were".

  9. A funny, honest answer invites a story.

  10. Always return the question.

Check yourself

1Which is correct with a plural noun?
2Which answer keeps the conversation going best?
3When do people usually ask "How was your weekend?"

Practice · 3 min

Ask about the past, and answer with a detail. Prompt on the left, one natural sentence on the right.

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Say it today

Use it once in a real conversation before tomorrow. Out loud counts, even to yourself.