Was and were are two forms of the verb to be. Understanding the difference between was and were is important in English grammar, as they are used in different contexts.
Quick Answers
Was is used for singular subjects in the past tense. For example:
- I was tired yesterday.
- She was busy last week.
Were is used for plural subjects in the past tense. For example:
- They were late to the meeting.
- We were excited for the trip.
Was is also used for singular subjects with “you.” For example:
- You were fantastic in the play last night!
Were is used for subjects that are always plural, like “they” and “we.” For example:
- They were going to the store.
- We were planning a surprise party.
When to Use Was
Was is the past tense singular form of the verb to be. It is used when referring to one person, place, thing or idea in the past. Here are the main situations when you would use was:
- With singular nouns: “The boy was tired.”
- With singular pronouns: “She was busy yesterday.”
- With proper nouns: “Sarah was my best friend.”
- With “you” as a singular pronoun: “You were fantastic in the play!”
- In if/wish clauses: “If I was younger, I could run faster.”
Let’s look at some more examples:
- The weather was nice on Saturday.
- The cat was playing with the toy.
- I was feeling ill last week.
- You were so helpful, thank you!
- If I was more organized, I wouldn’t lose my keys.
Was vs Were with You
“You” can be either singular or plural. When referring to one person, use was. When referring to multiple people, use were.
Examples:
- You were so amazing in the musical!
- You were such good friends over the years.
(one person)
(multiple people)
When to Use Were
Were is the past tense plural form of the verb to be. It is used when referring to two or more people, places, things or ideas in the past. Here are the main situations when you would use were:
- With plural nouns: “The children were laughing.”
- With plural pronouns: “They were going to the park.”
- With “you” as a plural pronoun: “You were so kind to help me.”
- With always plural nouns like “people”: “Many people were at the concert.”
Let’s look at some more examples:
- The cookies were delicious.
- We were planning a surprise party.
- The musicians were talented.
- You were all supposed to be here at 9am!
- They were excited for summer vacation.
Special Case: You
“You” can be tricky because it can be either singular or plural. Use your context clues. If “you” refers to one person, use was. If it refers to multiple people, use were.
Examples:
- You were so amazing in your piano recital!
- You were the best friends anyone could ask for.
(one person)
(multiple people)
Subject-Verb Agreement
An important rule to remember is subject-verb agreement. The subject and verb must match in number. A singular subject takes was, while a plural subject takes were.
| Subject | Verb |
|---|---|
| I | was |
| He | was |
| She | was |
| You | were |
| We | were |
| They | were |
As you can see, the singular subjects (I, he, she) take was, while the plural subjects (you, we, they) take were.
Using Was vs Were in Sentences
Let’s look at some example sentences using was and were:
- Was – I was exhausted after the marathon yesterday.
- Were – The marathon runners were exhausted after the race.
- Was – Sam was an excellent football player in high school.
- Were – The football players were excited for the championship game.
- Was – The weather was terrible during our beach trip.
- Were – The beaches were so crowded last summer.
You can see how was is used for singular subjects like “I” and “Sam”, while were is used for plural subjects like “runners” and “players.”
Negative Sentences
Was and were can also be used in negative sentences. For singular subjects, use “was not” or “wasn’t.” For plural subjects, use “were not” or “weren’t.”
- Was not – I was not feeling well yesterday.
- Wasn’t – She wasn’t expected to win the race.
- Were not – The kids were not picky eaters when they were young.
- Weren’t – We weren’t prepared for the pop quiz in class!
Questions
Was and were can be used in questions as well. For singular subjects, use “was” like “Was it fun?” For plural subjects, use “were” like “Were they at the party?”
Here are some examples of questions using was vs were:
- Was – Was the movie good?
- Were – Were the actors convincing?
- Was – Was Sam offered the job?
- Were – Were the office hours convenient for you?
- Was – Was the weather nice on your trip?
- Were – Were the beaches crowded when you went?
Common Mistakes
Here are some common mistakes people make using was vs were:
- Using “was” with a plural subject:
- Incorrect: The boys was tired after playing soccer.
- Correct: The boys were tired after playing soccer.
- Using “were” with a singular subject:
- Incorrect: Sam were going to the store.
- Correct: Sam was going to the store.
- Using “was” with “you” when it refers to multiple people:
- Incorrect: You was all so nice to me yesterday.
- Correct: You were all so nice to me yesterday.
Remember to pay attention to your subject-verb agreement to choose was or were correctly.
Conclusion
In summary, was is used for singular subjects in the past tense, while were is used for plural subjects. The key rules are:
- Use was with singular nouns and pronouns: I, he, she, it
- Use were with plural nouns and pronouns: you, we, they
- With “you,” look at the context to see if it’s singular or plural
- Match your verb to the subject number – singular takes was, plural takes were
Practice identifying singular vs plural subjects, and choosing the correct verb form. With a bit of practice, knowing when to use was vs were will become second nature!