# were

/ˈwɝ/ (US) · /wˈɜː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/were
Updated: 2026-07-09

## Senses

### 1. past tense of 'be'

verb · CEFR A1

the past tense of 'be' when talking about more than one person, or when using 'you'.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. imagined situations

verb · CEFR B1

used to talk about things that are not true or are just imagined, often after 'if'.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. shape-shifters

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang

a person who can change into an animal, like a werewolf.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- They were at the park yesterday.
- We were surprised to find that the shops were already closed when we arrived at the mall.
- If the circumstances were different, the committee might have reached a more favourable conclusion regarding the proposal, but the current economic climate made such a decision impossible.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.