Where and when are ‘Was’ and ‘Were’ used?

Usage of ‘was’

The word “was” is a past tense form of the verb “to be.” It is used to refer to a singular subject (he, she, it, or a singular noun) in the past tense. Here are some examples of how and when “was” is used:

To describe a past action or state of being:

• He was at the party last night.
• The weather was cold and rainy yesterday.
• I was so tired after working all day.

To indicate a continuous action or state of being in the past:

• She was studying for her exam all night.
• The children were playing in the park for hours.
• I was walking along the beach when I saw a dolphin.

To form the past continuous tense:

• She was cooking dinner when the phone rang.
• They were watching TV when the power went out.

In reported speech, to indicate a change in a situation that is no longer true:

• She said she was feeling sick this morning.
• He told me he was going to the store later.
• They said they were excited to start their new jobs.

Overall, “was” is used to indicate that something happened or existed in the past and is no longer happening or existing in the present.

Usage of ‘were’

The word “were” is a past tense form of the verb “to be.” It is used to refer to plural subjects (you, we, they, or plural nouns) in the past tense. Here are some examples of how and when “were” is used:

To describe a past action or state of being of plural subjects:

• We were at the beach last weekend.
• They were happy to see us.
• The flowers were beautiful in the garden.

To indicate a continuous action or state of being in the past for plural subjects:

• We were playing soccer for hours.
• They were working hard on their project.
• The birds were singing in the trees.

To form the past continuous tense for plural subjects:

• We were walking in the park when it started to rain.
• They were talking on the phone when I walked in.

In conditional sentences, to indicate a hypothetical situation that is contrary to fact:

• If they were here, we would go to the movies together.
• If I were you, I would take a break.
• I wish I were taller.

Overall, “were” is used to indicate that something happened or existed in the past for plural subjects and is no longer happening or existing in the present, or to express hypothetical or contrary-to-fact situations in the present or past.

 

What is the Difference between Was and Were?

The main difference between “was” and “were” is that “was” is used for singular subjects (he, she, it, or a singular noun) in the past tense, while “were” is used for plural subjects (you, we, they, or plural nouns) in the past tense. Here are some other key differences between “was” and “were”:

1. Subject-verb agreement: “Was” is used with singular subjects and “were” is used with plural subjects, so it is important to use the correct form of the verb to match the subject.

2. Forming the past continuous tense: “Was” is used with the past participle of the main verb to form the past continuous tense for singular subjects, while “were” is used with the past participle of the main verb to form the past continuous tense for plural subjects.

3. Conditional statements: “Were” is used in hypothetical or contrary-to-fact situations, while “was” is not. For example, “If I were rich, I would travel the world” is a hypothetical situation, while “I was rich when I lived in New York” is a statement about the past.

4. Reported speech: “Was” is used to indicate a change in a situation that is no longer true, while “were” is not. For example, “She said she was feeling sick this morning” indicates a change in her health, while “They said they were excited to start their new jobs” simply reports their statement.

Conclusion:

the main difference between “was” and “were” is the subject-verb agreement, with “was” used for singular subjects and “were” used for plural subjects.

 

What is the Difference between Was and Were: FAQs?

1. Can “was” be used with plural subjects?

Ans. No, “was” is only used with singular subjects.

2. Can “were” be used with singular subjects?

Ans. No, “were” is only used with plural subjects.

3. How do I know which form to use with “I”?

Ans. Use “was” with “I” as it is a singular subject.

4. Can “were” be used in reported speech to indicate a change in a situation that is no longer true?

Ans. No, “was” is used for this purpose. “Were” is used in hypothetical or contrary-to-fact situations.

5. Can “was” be used in hypothetical or contrary-to-fact situations?

Ans. No, “were” is used for this purpose. “Was” is used to describe a past action or state of being.