Difference between revisions of "Language/English/Grammar/Was-and-Were"
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*Were is used in the second person singular and plural (you, your, yours) and first and third person plural (we, they). | *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" | Example: "They '''were''' <del>was</del> gone" | ||
==If I was / If I were== | ==If I was / If I were== | ||
Example: If I were <del>was</del> a better teacher, I could have more students. | Example: If I '''were''' <del>was</del> a better teacher, I could have more students. | ||
You have to use "If I were" with the subjunctive mood which is a verb form that is used for hypothetical statements. | You have to use "If I were" with the subjunctive mood which is a verb form that is used for hypothetical statements. | ||
Revision as of 16:26, 14 January 2017
Was and were are both past tenses of the verb TO BE. The verb be is an irregular verb and it is used a lot.
Singular / Plural
- 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 werewasgone"
If I was / If I were
Example: If I werewasa better teacher, I could have more students.
You have to use "If I were" with the subjunctive mood which 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.