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Very simple explanation of the correct use of 'was' or 'were'
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Was or Were
Correct Usage
Conjugate
How to use was - were
If I ‘was’ – ‘were’
Past Negative
Quizzes
How to use the words ‘’was’’ ‘’were’’
The most common use of the words ‘was’ or 'were' are straightforward and should not cause problems. It is the simple past tense of the word ‘is’ or 'are' (from the verb 'to be'), and as such is used along with the pronouns ‘I’, 'you', ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it’, 'we' and 'they', as in these examples:
A past verb can also be a word that shows a state or condition. (I was tired.)
Some state verbs: was, were
The verb ("to be") usually follows a noun or pronoun.
Conjugate
Conjugate the verb!
Singular
I Was
You Were
He Was
She Was
It Was
Plural
We Were
You Were
They Were
Verb – past tense ‘to be’
The past tense of the verb ‘to be’ are as follows:
"if I was" or "if I were"?
The question of whether to use if I was or if I were is a question of mood, which, in grammarspeak, refers to the way in which a verb expresses an action or state of being. In the English language, sentences can take on three different moods:
Indicative: This is the most common mood and the easiest to understand. The indicative mood makes statements or asks questions: "My little brother is bugging me." "Is that tuna sandwich safe to eat?"
Imperative: An imperative statement makes requests or gives commands. The subject of an imperative sentence is often an understood "you" that does not actually appear in the sentence: "Don't bug your brother!" "Please put that tuna sandwich in the trash."
Subjunctive: A verb in the subjunctive mood deals with hypothetical situations or with ideas that are contrary to fact. "If my brother were a beetle, I would step on him." "If that tuna sandwich hadn't spoiled, I would've had a nice lunch."
In the present subjunctive, were is used for all people: "If I were a rich man . . . " "If she were only ten years younger . . . " "If they were only a bit more experienced . . . "
The past subjunctive uses had in all cases: "If my brother hadn't been bugging me, I could have finished my homework." "If I hadn't eaten that sandwich, I wouldn't be in the hospital now."
Note that the words would and could are good indicators of the subjunctive mood, although their appearance does not necessarily mean that a sentence is in the subjunctive mood.
Now, to come around to the original question, the subjunctive mood is the most common mood in the if I was/were dilemma, so if I were is more often (though not always) the way to go.
Not every if I statement should be in the subjunctive mood. Consider the following sentences:
If I was wrong, I apologize.
If I were wrong, I would apologize.
The first sentence is in the indicative mood — it actually offers up the speaker's apology. The second sentence, in the subjunctive mood, states either a) that an apology would be forthcoming if the speaker's error comes to light, or b) that the fact that the speaker hasn't offered an apology indicates that he or she was not wrong. In either case, in this second sentence, the speaker's error and apology are both hypothetical, and therefore the sentence is in the subjunctive mood.
The past negative of the verb “to be”
A verb can also be a word that negates a state or condition. (I was not tired.)
The verb ("to be") usually follows a noun or pronoun.
Person Number Singular Negative Contraction
first singular I was I was not I wasn't
second singular you were you were not you weren't
third singular he was he was not he wasn't
third singular it was it was not it wasn't
third singular she was she was not she wasn't
first plural we were we were not we weren't
second plural you were you were not you weren't
third plural they were they were not they weren't
Verb ("to be") Past Negative
Negative Contracted
Bill was not a fireman. Bill wasn't a fireman.
He was not a girl. He wasn't a girl.
Tara was not a boy. Tara wasn't a boy.
They were not happy. They weren't a girl.
The house was not big. The house wasn't big.
I was not an American. I wasn't an American.
Tom was not tired. Tom wasn't tired.
Quiz 1
Select the correct word for each of the following:
1. Tony __________ a good friend.
2. I _________ at the movies.
3. We _________ in the building.
4. They _________ under the bridge.
5. I ________ the boy's friend.
6. You __________ at the desk.
7. Rhoda ________ here yesterday.
8. They _________ in room five.
9. She _________ a janitor.
10. It ________ working last night.
was
was
were
were
was
were
was
were
was
was
Quiz 2
1. Mary and I___________ happy.
2. I _________a student.
3. Miss Thatcher __________a teacher.
4. Bob and Ted __________young.
5. You _________tall.
6. The dog __________brown.
7. He ____________at home.
8. They ____________sad.
9. Daniel ______________a soldier.
10. You _________my best friends.
was
were
was
were
were
was
was
were
was
were
Select the correct verb for the following:
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