Was vs. Were: What’s the Difference?

Both was and were are past tense forms of the verb to be, but they depend on the subject and the situation — whether it’s real or hypothetical.

Let’s break it down simply.

Was: Singular, Real, and Past

Meaning

“Was” is used with singular subjects (I, he, she, it) when describing real or factual past situations.

Examples (10 total)

1. I was tired after work.
2. She was at the party last night.
3. He was late for school.
4. It was raining yesterday.
5. The room was cold.
6. I was happy to see you.
7. There was a problem with the system.
8. The cat was sleeping all day.
9. That movie was really funny.
10. Everything was perfect.

🧠 Tip:
Use was when talking about something that actually happened in the past and involves I, he, she, or it.

Were: Plural or Hypothetical

Meaning

“Were” is used in two main ways:

1. With plural subjects (you, we, they).
2. In hypothetical or imaginary situations (called the subjunctive mood).

Examples (Plural Use)

1. We were at the concert.
2. You were early today.
3. They were on vacation.
4. The dogs were barking loudly.
5. You all were amazing!

Examples (Hypothetical Use — Subjunctive Mood)

1. If I were you, I’d take the job.
2. I wish I were taller.
3. If he were here, he’d help us.
4. Suppose it were true — what then?
5. If it were not for her, we’d be lost.

🧠 Tip:
Use were for “not real” or “imaginary” situations — even if the subject is singular.

Quick Comparison Table

How to Remember the Difference

👉 Was = Fact or reality
👉 Were = Plural or imagination

💡 Memory Trick:

If it’s real, use was.
If it’s imaginary, use were — even for “I” or “he.”

Common Mistakes

❌ If I was you, I’d quit.
✅ If I were you, I’d quit.

❌ He were late yesterday.
✅ He was late yesterday.

❌ They was playing soccer.
✅ They were playing soccer.

Why It’s Confusing

Because English often uses “were” in imaginary cases where you’d expect “was.”
For example, If I were rich sounds strange — but it’s grammatically correct because it describes an unreal situation.

Even AI writing tools confuse this sometimes, which is why Humanizey helps refine grammar and tone automatically — ensuring your text sounds natural and correct.

FAQs

1. Can “was” ever be used for “you”?

No. Always use “were” with “you” — no matter if it’s singular or plural.

2. Is “If I was” ever acceptable?

In informal speech, yes — but “If I were” is grammatically correct in writing.

3. What’s the past tense of “be”?

It depends on the subject:

• I/he/she/it → was
• you/we/they → were

4. What’s the plural of “was”?

There isn’t one — you use “were” for plural subjects.

Practice: Choose the Correct Word (“Was” or “Were”)

(Answers are listed at the end.)

1. I ___ at the beach yesterday.
2. You ___ amazing in that show!
3. If I ___ rich, I’d buy a castle.
4. He ___ sick last week.
5. They ___ best friends in college.
6. She ___ here when the call came.
7. We ___ going to tell you earlier.
8. If he ___ honest, he’d admit it.
9. There ___ no seats left at the concert.
10. I wish it ___ sunny today.

Answers

1. was
2. were
3. were
4. was
5. were
6. was
7. were
8. were
9. were
10. were