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Blaster Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

about was and were

Hi , I am a beginner in english learning , I have a question : what the difference between was and were and when I must use the first and also the second ?
  

Top answer

These are simple past forms of the verb to be . was is used for I, he, she, it; were is used for you, we, they. The verb is also used to form a progressive tense: I was walking, they were swimming.

— Philip

  • These are simple past forms of the verb to be .
  • was is used for I, he, she, it; were is used for you, we, they.
  • The verb is also used to form a progressive tense: I was walking, they were swimming.
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10 Answers
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These are simple past forms of the verb to be. was is used for I, he, she, it; were is used for you, we, they. The verb is also used to form a progressive tense: I was walking, they were swimming.
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PhilipThese are simple past forms of the verb to be. was is used for I, he, she, it; were is used for you, we, they. The verb is also used to form a progressive tense: I was walking, they were swimming.
Thank you it's all clear now
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raja and rani read book. is it correct?
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Raja and Rani read a book.
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Raja and Rani read a book. or, Raja and Rani read the book. (it depends)
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If you are writing about only one of something, was is the singular verb. Use the plural verb were when writing about more than one. Example: I was sick yesterday. We were busy yesterday. Mr. and Mrs. Lee were here yesterday.
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AnonymousUse the plural verb were when writing about more than one.
As Philip pointed out in the second post in this thread. were is used with you, which can be singular.
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please give me particular examples
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Anonymousplease give me particular examples
There are particular examples above. What kind of example are you looking for, precisely?
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blasterThank you it's all clear now
There is an exception.
When the statement in an IF-clause is not true, use "were".

If I were the King of England, I would buy a diamond ring for you. (I am not the King of England.)
If he were smart, he would not throw stones at the policeman. (He is not smart.)
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