What are was and were?

Was and were are the past forms of the verb be. You use them to talk about yesterday and other finished time: I was tired. They were happy. When you see yesterday, last night or a past year like 1993, the sentence needs was or were, not am, is or are.

The rule

The form follows the subject, exactly like am, is and are. Use was after I, he, she, it and any one person or thing. Use were after you, we, they and any two or more people or things.

To make a negative, add not straight after the verb. To make a question, put the verb in front of the subject. The verb be does this on its own in the past too: you never add did.

Form

Examples

• I was tired yesterday.
• She was at home last night.
• They were happy at the party.
• We were not late this morning.
• Were you sick? — No, I was not.

Common mistakes

• ❌ They was happy. → ✅ They were happy. They means more than one, so it needs were.
• ❌ She teacher yesterday. → ✅ She was a teacher. English always needs the verb, also in the past.
• ❌ Did you were ready? → ✅ Were you ready? Be makes its own question — do not add did.
• ❌ I were tired. → ✅ I was tired. I always takes was, never were.