Questions about 이였어요

[Sireno87]

Hello. I don't quite understand what this means. I think it's a form of 있다, but looking at verb conjugations of 있다 on verbix I do not see this particular one. I am finding it in Rosetta Stone and I believe it it means something like the past tense "was" or perhaps "has been". For example: 학생이였어요. I had been a student? I was a student? If you can clear up what this is a little more that'd be helpful. Thank you.

[trutherous]

학생이였어요. I had been a student? I was a student?

if you ask me "had been" and "was" are essentially the same - it's splitting hairs

체포된 사람이 학생이었어요? - Was the person arrested a student?

예. 고등학생이었어요. - Yes. He was a high school student.

For lack of better examples coming to mind:

저것은 내 가방이었어요 - That was (used to be) my handbag.

저 빨간 차는 내 차였어요. - That red car used to be mine.

저 건물은 학교였어요? - Was that building a school (at one time)?

네. 학교였어요. - Yes. It was (used to be) a school.

oh what fun.. anyway I couldn't think up any better examples -- don't sweat it -- you'll get this point by osmosis