Question

Before the invention of the steamboat there ................... no way to cross the ocean (be)

Answer 1

Was

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement is referring to a time where steamboats didn't exist, and there was no method of crossing the ocean, hence the verb 'was' works perfect here.

Hope this helped, have a good day!

Answer 2

Here we have to put a be verb in the blank.

• The five be verbs are : am, is, are, was and were.

Answer :

Before the invention of the steamboat there was no way to cross the ocean.