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

[Middle English were, weren, from Old English wǣre, wǣren, wǣron; see wes-1 in Indo-European roots.]
Our Living Language Although many irregular verbs in English once had different singular and plural forms in the past tense, only one still does today—be, which uses the form was with singular subjects and the form were with plural subjects, as well as with singular you. The relative simplicity in the forms of most verbs reflects the long-standing tendency of English speakers to make irregular verbs more regular by reducing the number of forms used with different persons, numbers, and tenses. Since past be is so irregular, speakers of different vernacular dialects have regularized it in several ways. In the United States, most vernacular speakers regularize past be by using was with all subjects, whether singular or plural. This pattern is most common in Southern-based dialects, particularly African American Vernacular English (AAVE). Some speakers use were with both singular and plural subjects; thus, one may hear she were alongside we were. However, this usage has been much less widespread than the use of was with plural subjects and appears to be fading. · In some scattered regions in the South, particularly in coastal areas of North Carolina, Virginia, and Maryland, vernacular speakers may regularize past be as was in positive contexts and regularize it as weren't in negative contexts, as in He was a good man, weren't he? or They sure was nice people, weren't they? At first glance, the was/weren't pattern appears to come from England, where it is fairly commonplace. However, in-depth study of the was/weren't pattern in coastal North Carolina indicates that it may have developed independently, for it is found to a greater extent in the speech of younger speakers than in that of older coastal residents. · Other forms of negative past be include warn't, common in American folk speech in the 1700s and 1800s, and wont, as in It wont me or They wont home. Wont, which often sounds just like the contraction won't, historically has been concentrated in New England and is also found in scattered areas of the South.


(wɜː; unstressed)
1. the plural form of the past tense (indicative mood) of be and the singular form used with you. It is also used as a subjunctive, esp in conditional sentences
[Old English wērun, wæron past tense plural of wesan to be; related to Old Norse vera, Old Frisian weria, Old High German werōn to last]
Usage: Were, as a remnant of the past subjunctive in English, is used in formal contexts in clauses expressing hypotheses (if he were to die, she would inherit everything), suppositions contrary to fact (if I were you, I would be careful), and desire (I wish he were there now). In informal speech, however, was is often used instead


(wɜr; unstressed wər)

a 2nd pers. sing. past indic.; 1st, 2nd, and 3rd pers. pl. past indic.; and past subj. of be.
[before 1000; Middle English; Old English wǣre past subjunctive, wǣre past ind. 2nd pers. singular and wǣron past ind. pl. of wesan to be; compare was]
usage: See subjunctive.


contraction of we are.

Were, Wered, Wering

 a military force; a band of troops.


1. used to talk about the past

Were is the plural form and the second person singular form of the past tense of be.

They were only fifty miles from the coast.
You were about twelve at the time.
2. used in conditional clauses

Were has a special use in conditional clauses when these clauses are used to mention situations that do not exist, or events that are unlikely to happen. When the subject of the clause is I, he, she, it, there, or a singular noun, were is sometimes used instead of 'was', especially in formal writing.

If I were in his circumstances, I would do the same.
If the law were changed, it would not benefit women.

In conversation and in less formal writing, people usually use was.

If I was an architect, I'd re-design this house.
If the business was properly run this wouldn't happen.

Both was or were are now considered correct in clauses like this and are acceptable even in formal writing.

The fixed phrase 'If I were you' almost always contains were, even in informal English. Don't say 'If I was you'.

If I were you, I'd start looking for a new job.

Be Careful!
Don't confuse were /wə/ with where /weə/. You use where to make statements or ask questions about place or position.

Where is the nearest train station?
See where
References in classic literature ?
We were talking about what it is like to spend one's childhood in little towns like these, buried in wheat and corn, under stimulating extremes of climate: burning summers when the world lies green and billowy beneath a brilliant sky, when one is fairly stifled in vegetation, in the color and smell of strong weeds and heavy harvests; blustery winters with little snow, when the whole country is stripped bare and gray as sheet-iron.
I had no expectation of seeing him, and we were both surprised when we met on the express.