In English grammar, the choice between ‘did’ and ‘was/were’ can sometimes be confusing, especially when used in questions like ‘Where did the concert held?’ and ‘Where was the concert held?’ In this article, we will explore the difference between these two questions and provide clarity on when to use ‘did’ and when to use ‘was’ or ‘were.’
Understanding the Difference Between ‘Did’ and ‘Was/Were’
The primary difference between ‘did’ and ‘was/were’ lies in the tense they represent. ‘Did’ is used in the past simple tense, while ‘was’ and ‘were’ are forms of the past tense of the verb ‘to be’ and are used to describe states or actions in progress.
Why ‘Where was the concert held?’ is Correct
The correct question is ‘Where was the concert held?’ because it uses ‘was,’ which is the appropriate form of the verb ‘to be’ when referring to a past event. In this case, ‘was’ is used to ask about the location of the concert in the past, implying a specific event that took place at a particular time. The sentence is grammatically correct as it properly forms a question about a past event using the past tense of ‘to be.’
Example: ‘Where was the concert held last night?’ Here, ‘was’ indicates the past event.
Why ‘Where did the concert held?’ is Incorrect
The sentence ‘Where did the concert held?’ is grammatically incorrect because it uses both ‘did’ and ‘held’ together, which is redundant. In English, when using ‘did’ in a question, the main verb must be in its base form (the infinitive form), without adding ‘-ed’ for past tense. The correct structure would be ‘Where did the concert take place?’ where ‘did’ is followed by the base form of the verb ‘take.’ ‘Did’ already indicates the past tense, so there’s no need to use ‘held’ in its past form.
When to Use ‘Did’ and When to Use ‘Was/Were’
‘Did’ is used for actions in the past in the past simple tense, usually for questions and negative statements. It is used with the base form of the verb. Example: ‘Did you see the concert?’ In this case, ‘did’ helps form the past simple question, and ‘see’ remains in the base form.
‘Was’ and ‘were’ are used to talk about states, locations, or ongoing actions in the past. For example: ‘I was at the concert’ or ‘They were there when the concert started.’ ‘Was’ is used with singular subjects (I, he, she) and ‘were’ with plural subjects (we, you, they). Example: ‘Where were you last night?’ indicates a state or location in the past.
Examples of Correct Sentences
1. Where did you go yesterday? (Using ‘did’ with the base verb ‘go.’)
2. Where was the concert held last year? (Using ‘was’ to indicate a past event or state.)
Conclusion
The difference between ‘Where did the concert held?’ and ‘Where was the concert held?’ lies in the use of the correct auxiliary verb. ‘Did’ is used in past simple questions with the base form of the verb, while ‘was’ and ‘were’ are used for describing past events or states. By understanding the role of ‘did’ and ‘was/were,’ you can improve your understanding of past tense questions and form them correctly.
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