were
Pronunciation
change- stressed
- unstressed
- (UK) IPA (key): /wə(r)/, SAMPA: /w@(r\)/
- (US) enPR: wər, IPA (key): /wɚ/, SAMPA: /w@`/
Audio (US) (file)
Homophones
change- whirr (in accents with the wine-whine merger)
Verb
change
Plain form |
Past participle |
Present participle |
Negatives: |
None |
None |
Contractions: |
None |
None |
None |
- (auxiliary) (linking) A form of the verb be used about the person you are talking to.
- Only you were doing it right.
- (auxiliary) (linking) A form of the verb be used about more than one person.
- We were going home.
- You all were staying late.
- They were all playing in the band.
- (auxiliary) (linking) A form of the verb be used with the word if.
- If I were rich, I would retire.
- (auxiliary) (linking) A form of the verb be used about things you wish for.
- I wish it were the weekend.
Note
change- In the last two examples, many people use was instead.