Was vs Were | Correct Use & Examples
Both “was” and “were” can be used as the past tense of “to be,” but they are not interchangeable.
- Was is used for the first-person singular (e.g., “I was”) and third-person singular (e.g., “she was”).
- Were is used for the second-person singular (e.g., “You were”) and all plural forms (e.g., “They were,” “we were”).
However, it’s important to note that “were” is the correct choice when using the subjunctive mood, which expresses hypothetical situations, wishes, desires, demands, or situations that are contrary to reality (e.g., “If I were you, I’d leave that alone”).
| Was in a sentence examples | Were in a sentence examples |
|---|---|
| I was excited about the show last night.
She was late for the presentation. It was a rainy day yesterday. |
You were right about the book; I loved it.
We were upset with the result. They were all very helpful. |
When to use was
“Was” is one of the two past-tense forms of the verb “to be,” which describes a state of existence. It’s used with the first-person and third-person singular pronouns.
| Subject pronouns | Example |
|---|---|
| I (first-person singular) | I was in the garage when you got home. |
| She (third-person singular) | She was a talented nail-technician before she began her music career. |
| He (third-person singular) | We went all the way downtown because he was in the mood to eat Thai food. |
| It (third-person singular) | It was the best decision we ever made. |
Additionally, “was” can function as an auxiliary verb that helps indicate what someone or something was doing in the past. Auxiliary verbs are used with main verbs to express tense, voice, and mood. In this sense, “was” is only used with singular subjects.
She was writing a list of potential issues.
He was explaining how to use the new system at work.
It was displaying a wrong number on the screen.
When to use were
Use “were” as the past tense of “to be” with second-person singular and plural, as well as first-person and third-person plural pronouns.
| Subject pronouns | Example |
|---|---|
| You (second-person singular) | You were the first person to arrive. |
| You (second-person plural) | I could tell you were all excited about the upcoming ceremony. |
| We (first-person plural) | We were delighted by the unexpected gifts. |
| They (third-person plural) | They were confident in their abilities to win first place. |
“Were” is also the correct choice when using the past subjunctive of “to be.” The subjunctive mood is used when expressing hypothetical situations, wishes, desires, demands, or statements that are contrary to reality.
She wishes she were wealthier.
Amanda sometimes acts as if she were in charge.
If Tony were here, he’d know exactly what to do.
I was or I were
The use of “I was” or “I were” depends on the message of the sentence.
- Use “I was” when expressing your past action or state of being (e.g., “I was hungry”).
- Use “I were” when using the subjunctive mood, or expressing hypothetical situations. In these cases, “I were” is usually preceded by words like “if” and “wish” (e.g., “If I were younger”).
| I was in a sentence examples | I were in a sentence examples |
|---|---|
| I was fatigued after the long flight. | I wish I were better at painting. |
| I was a volunteer at the animal shelter. | She still treats me as if I were a child. |
| I was in the middle of taking a shower when the power went out. | If I were to win the lottery, I would buy my mom a house. |
You was or you were
“You were” is always the correct form, whether you’re using “you” as the second-person singular or plural pronoun.
“You was” is grammatically incorrect in standard English. Use “you were” for past tense statements (e.g., “You were late”) and in the subjunctive mood (e.g., “If you were taller”).
- You were supposed to let me know when you arrived.
- You was supposed to let me know when you arrived.
There were or there was
Use “there were” with plural nouns (e.g., “There were birds waiting to be fed”) and “there was” with singular nouns (e.g., “There was a bird waiting to be fed”).
Note that collective nouns are treated as singular nouns in American English (e.g., “There was a family with many questions”).
- There were many questions that needed to be answered.
- There was many questions that needed to be answered.
- There was a meeting scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
- There were a meeting scheduled for 3:00 p.m.
- There was a herd of elephants that stopped traffic.
- There were a herd of elephants that stopped traffic.
Frequently asked questions about was vs were
- Is it I wish I was or I wish I were?
-
“I wish I were” is the grammatically correct phrase because it uses the past subjunctive form of “to be,” which is “were” (e.g., “I wish I were on vacation”). This form is used to express wishes or hypothetical situations contrary to reality.
However, “I wish I was” is becoming increasingly acceptable in casual speech and writing.
QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you use “was and were” correctly in your writing. Try it today.
- Is it if I was or if I were?
-
Use “if I was” to refer to real, factual situations that have likely occured (e.g., “If I was unclear, I’ll clarify”).
Use “if I were” for hypothetical, imaginary, or contrary-to-fact situations (e.g., “If I were her, I’d go home”).
Remember, “if I was” is used in the indicative mood, while “if I were” is used in the subjunctive mood.
QuillBot’s Grammar Checker can ensure proper use of was and were in your writing. Give it a try!
