Difference between revisions of "Language/English/Grammar/Was-and-Were"

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When wondering which verb to use, check to see if your subject is plural or not.
[[File:Were-or-Was.jpg|thumb]]


* Example: "They were gone". Not: "they <del>was</del> gone".
<span style="font-size:300%;">When use "Was" and when use "Were" in English?</span>


Because '''they''' implies more than one party. It is plural.
'''Was''' and '''were''' are both past tenses of the verb TO BE.  


For singular subjects, such as '''he''' or '''she''', use WAS.
It's important to know how to use it. It's an irregular verb used a lot in both written and spoken English.


If your subject is plural or singular your verb must match.
==Singular / Plural==


This is called subject-verb agreement.
*Was is used in the first person singular and the third person singular (he, she, it).
*Were is used in the second person singular and plural (you, your, yours) and first and third person plural (we, they).
 
Example:
  - They '''were''' <del>was</del> gone (plural)
  - He '''was''' <del>were</del> gone (singular)
 
==If I were==
 
Example: "If I '''were''' <del>was</del> a better teacher, I could have more students."
 
Although '''I''' is singular, you have to use "If I '''were'''" with the subjunctive mood. This subjunctive is a verb form that is used for hypothetical statements.  
 
You often use this form to express wishes.
 
For example,
*He wishes I weren't so selfish.
*He wishes it were wet outside.
 
==Other Lessons==
* [[Language/English/Grammar/Mass-noun|Mass noun]]
* [[Language/English/Grammar/Miscellaneous-collocations|Miscellaneous collocations]]
* [[Language/English/Grammar/Linking-with-And-But-So|Linking with And But So]]
* [[Language/English/Grammar/How-Some-pointers-when-using-Adjectives|How Some pointers when using Adjectives]]
* [[Language/English/Grammar/Adjectives-ending-in-ly|Adjectives ending in ly]]
* [[Language/English/Grammar/Subject-Verb-Agreement|Subject Verb Agreement]]
* [[Language/English/Grammar/In:-place|In: place]]
* [[Language/English/Grammar/CONJUNCTIONS-→-Cause-and-Effect|CONJUNCTIONS → Cause and Effect]]
* [[Language/English/Grammar/Abstract-nouns-and-concrete-nouns|Abstract nouns and concrete nouns]]
* [[Language/English/Grammar/Actual-and-actually|Actual and actually]]
<span links></span>

Latest revision as of 12:23, 25 March 2023

Were-or-Was.jpg

When use "Was" and when use "Were" in English?

Was and were are both past tenses of the verb TO BE.

It's important to know how to use it. It's an irregular verb used a lot in both written and spoken English.

Singular / Plural[edit | edit source]

  • Was is used in the first person singular and the third person singular (he, she, it).
  • Were is used in the second person singular and plural (you, your, yours) and first and third person plural (we, they).
Example: 
 - They were was gone (plural)
 - He was were gone (singular)

If I were[edit | edit source]

Example: "If I were was a better teacher, I could have more students."

Although I is singular, you have to use "If I were" with the subjunctive mood. This subjunctive is a verb form that is used for hypothetical statements.

You often use this form to express wishes.

For example,

  • He wishes I weren't so selfish.
  • He wishes it were wet outside.

Other Lessons[edit | edit source]

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