The difference between was and were

There are many students who struggle when it comes to using auxiliary verbs such as was and were. Even a single careless example of usage can lead to major grammatical errors in sentences. So how will students know when and how to use was and were? This article will discuss the main points of difference between the two words, and once students understand them, it will become easier for them to use these words correctly.

Auxiliary (helping) verbs play an essential role in the English language. Therefore, it is necessary for students, from an early age, to have a good understanding of how to use these two words. A student with a strong grasp of grammar develops a better ability to construct sentences free of grammatical errors. After reading this article, you will have a better idea of when to use the auxiliary verbs was and were without confusion. Let us look at the following points.

Explanation of was and were

Was

The word “was” is the past form of the verb “be” and is used with singular subjects in the first and third person.
It is used as a verb.

Example:
Sam was at the college yesterday.
(Sam was at the college yesterday.)

Were

The word “were” is the past form of the verb “be” and is used with plural subjects in the first and third person, as well as the second person (both singular and plural).
It is used as a verb.

Example:
The girls were playing in the field.
(The girls were playing in the field.)

The explanation above shows that was and were are not synonyms and cannot be used interchangeably. Students who are confused about these terms can now see the difference between them.

Meanings of  was and were

The simple difference between was and were is that the first is used when the subject is singular, while the second is used when the subject is plural.

Was is used with singular subjects from the first and third person perspective and is the past form of the verb “be”. Therefore, with “I” (first-person singular) and “he / she / it” (third-person singular), we use was.
While with “we” (first-person plural), “they” (third-person plural), and “you” (second-person singular/plural), we use were.

The following examples will help students understand when and how to use was and were in English sentences. Let us look at the examples.

Examples of was and were

The following examples ensure that students clearly understand the terms was and were:

• Was: I was washing the clothes yesterday. (first-person singular)
  I was washing the clothes yesterday.

• Sam was at the piano lessons. (third-person singular)
  Sam was attending piano lessons.

• We were playing basketball last night. (first-person plural)
  We were playing basketball last night.

• You were one of the laziest students in our class. (second person plural)
  You were one of the laziest students in our class.

• They were leaving the house. (third-person plural)
  They were leaving the house.

Conclusion

Although was and were are both past forms of the verb “to be,” they cannot be used as synonyms or interchangeably. When students use these words, they must understand the tense and the type of subject they are dealing with (first, second, or third person; singular or plural). English learning websites also provide various articles on many “differences between” commonly confused word pairs that students often misuse.