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Was vs. Were — What's the Difference?

By Fiza Rafique — Updated on September 21, 2023
Was and Were are both past tense forms of the verb "to be." "Was" is used with singular subjects and "Were" is used with plural subjects and in the subjunctive mood.
Was vs. Were — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Was and Were

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Key Differences

Was is a simple past tense form of the verb "to be," commonly used with singular subjects, such as "I," "he," "she," or "it." It denotes that a person or thing was in a certain state or condition at some point in the past.
Were is also a past tense form of "to be," but it is usually used with plural subjects, like "you," "we," and "they." It also applies when talking about multiple entities like "dogs" or "buildings," indicating that they were in a certain state or condition in the past.
In English grammar, Was is more straightforward in its application, usually teaming up with singular subjects in indicative sentences. "Were," however, has a dual role as it is also used in the subjunctive mood to describe hypothetical or non-real situations.
Was is generally not used in conditional sentences that discuss hypothetical or unreal scenarios. "Were," on the other hand, is used in these types of sentences, such as "If I were rich, I would travel the world."
Though both Was and Were come from the same verb "to be," they have distinct rules and contexts that dictate their usage. They should be used correctly to ensure that the subject-verb agreement is maintained and that sentences convey the intended meaning.
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Comparison Chart

Subject Agreement

Singular subjects
Plural subjects

Mood

Indicative mood only
Indicative and subjunctive

Conditional Sentences

Not generally used
Often used

Examples

I was, He was
You were, They were

Formality

Standard
Standard, but subjunctive can be more formal

Compare with Definitions

Was

Past tense of "to be" for singular subjects.
He was late.

Were

Used in subjunctive mood for hypothetical scenarios.
If I were you, I would apologize.

Was

To form past continuous tense.
He was running.

Were

Used to make past tense questions.
Were you there?

Was

Used to indicate a state or condition.
The door was open.

Were

Used to indicate a state or condition in the past.
The windows were open.

Was

Used to make past tense questions.
Was she there?

Were

To form past continuous tense.
They were running.

Was

To form passive voice sentences.
The cake was eaten.

Were

Were and wer are archaic terms for adult male humans and were often used for alliteration with wife as "were and wife" in Germanic-speaking cultures (Old English: wer, Old Dutch: wer, Gothic: waír, Old Frisian: wer, Old Saxon: wer, Old High German: wer, Old Norse: verr).

Was

First and third person singular past indicative of be. See Note at you-uns.

Were

Second person singular and plural and first and third person plural past indicative of be.

Was

Inflection of be.
I was castigated and scorned.

Were

Past subjunctive of be. See Usage Notes at if, wish.

Was

Inflection of be.
It was a really humongous slice of cake.

Were

Inflection of be
John, you were the only person to see him.

Was

Used in phrases with existential there when the semantic subject is (usually third-person) plural.
There was three of them there.

Were

Inflection of be
We were about to leave.
Mary and John, you were right.
They were a fine group.
They were to be the best of friends from that day on.

Was

Inflection of be.

Were

Inflection of be
I wish that it were Sunday.
I wish that I were with you.

Was

Inflection of be

Were

(Northern England) be.

Was

Inflection of be

Were

(fandom) The collective name for any kind of person that changes into another form under certain conditions, including the werewolf.

Was

The first and third persons singular of the verb be, in the indicative mood, preterit (imperfect) tense; as, I was; he was.

Were

To wear. See 3d Wear.

Were

To guard; to protect.

Were

A weir. See Weir.

Were

A man.

Were

A fine for slaying a man; the money value set upon a man's life; weregild.
Every man was valued at a certain sum, which was called his were.

Were

The imperfect indicative plural, and imperfect subjunctive singular and plural, of the verb be. See Be.

Were

Past tense of "to be" for plural subjects.
They were late.

Common Curiosities

Can I use Was and Were interchangeably?

No, they are subject to subject-verb agreement and mood rules.

What does Was mean?

"Was" is the past tense of "to be" used with singular subjects.

Is Was used in the subjunctive mood?

No, "were" is generally used for the subjunctive.

What does Were mean?

"Were" is the past tense of "to be" used with plural subjects and in subjunctive moods.

What's the negative form of Were?

Weren't.

How do I form questions with Was?

Subject-auxiliary inversion, e.g., "Was he there?"

How do I form questions with Were?

Subject-auxiliary inversion, e.g., "Were they there?"

Can Was be used in conditional sentences?

Typically no, "were" is usually used for hypothetical conditions.

Are Was and Were contractions?

No, they are forms of the verb "to be."

Can Were be used for singular subjects?

Only in the subjunctive mood, e.g., "If I were you."

Is Was only used for singular subjects?

Generally, yes, except for "you" which can be singular but still takes "were."

What's the negative form of Was?

Wasn't.

What is the subjunctive mood?

It's used to discuss hypothetical or non-real situations.

Is Were formal language?

It's standard, but its subjunctive use can sound formal.

What are the plural subjects that go with Were?

You, we, they, and any plural nouns.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Fiza Rafique
Fiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.

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