Word
were
US/ˈwɝ/
UK/wˈɜː/
Definitions
01past tense of 'be'
A1 · Beginner
v. the past tense of 'be' when talking about more than one person, or when using 'you'.
v. the past indicative form of 'be' used with second-person singular and all plural subjects.
“We were very tired after the long walk in the park.”
“The witnesses were unable to provide a consistent description of the vehicle, leading to significant delays in the initial investigation.”
Usage
Used with 'you', 'we', 'they', and plural noun phrases.
Pitfall
They was at the park yesterday.
They were at the park yesterday.
Use 'were' for plural subjects like 'they', 'we', or 'the boys'.
02imagined situations
B1 · Intermediate
v. used to talk about things that are not true or are just imagined, often after 'if'.
v. the past subjunctive form used in counterfactual or hypothetical conditional clauses.
“If I were you, I would take the job offer.”
“If the company were to expand into the European market now, it would require a substantial injection of venture capital.”
Usage
In formal English, 'were' is used for all persons (I/he/she/it) in 'if' clauses.
Teaching tip
While 'If I was' is common in casual speech, 'If I were' remains the standard for formal writing and exams.
03shape-shifters
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Slang
n. a person who can change into an animal, like a werewolf.
n. a person possessing the ability to metamorphose into another form, typically an animal.
“The movie features a group of weres who live in the forest.”
“The novel explores a hidden society of weres, focusing on the internal politics between the wolf and feline factions.”
Teaching tip
This is a niche term found mostly in fantasy fiction and gaming subcultures.
Synonyms
Etymology
From Proto-Indo-European h₂wes- through Proto-Germanic wēzun, wēzīn and Proto-West Germanic wāʀīn to Old English wǣre, wǣron, wǣren. Inherited into Middle English as were, weren, with the modern form were established by regular sound change.
Inherited from Middle English were, wer, see wer.
From the same Old English root as wer ("man"), preserved in compounds such as werewolf and extracted by back-formation.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Grammar
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A1 · Beginner
- Updated
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