"). The past tense of 'to be' Describes 2 or more people, places, or things; example: We were smart. The adverb and conjunction "where" (rhymes with "hair") refers to a place. Were. It can also sometimes function as a noun. To determine the difference between "were" and "we're," try substituting "we are" for the word. Always use were when imaginging a scenario; Common Errors in English Usage: Were / Were. Wear vs. Were vs. We're - Quiz 1. Always use were when talking about "you" example: You were going to drive to the store, were you not? An interrogative adverb – It is used to ask a question about a place; for example: Where is the library? SUGGESTION: To test whether were is the correct word to use in a sentence, see if you can use are in its place, putting the sentence into the present tense. Dr. Richard Nordquist is professor emeritus of rhetoric and English at Georgia Southern University and the author of several university-level grammar and composition textbooks. The word where (rhymes with hair) talks about a place, location, stage, or situation. Where vs. Wear vs. I'm sick of following my dreams. Leave a Comment / Uncategorized / By Admin. She mentioned that in her speech yesterday. Where vs. 1. A relative pronoun – It introduces a relative clause; for example: The house where Marsha grew up was recently sold for $500,000. Jenny would give free meals to all homeless people if she were the president. Wear is also a verb, but has to do with clothes or fatigue. I’m a reasonable human being — I don’t expect anyone to use “in which” this way much, if at all, in speech or casual writing. A brief exercise to help students who confuse the words ´where´ and ´were´. John and I we're were where wear at the mall yesterday Hi Tizania, these are different words, although they are pronounced similar. The words "were," "we're," and "where" are easily confused because they have similar sounds and spellings. A relative adverb – It is used as a point of reference; for example: I saw him at Macy’s, where I work as a manager. They are not homophonesâwords that have the same sounds or spellingsâand their meanings and uses are quite different. WHERE - is a Relative Pronoun used to describe places and locations. There is a difference between were and was, and when you’re writing, or trying to master the English language, it is imperative that you understand how to correctly use each word. They were happy, but now they are ecstatic. Once, there, Zoe found her dogs! We were watching TV last night. We will examine the meanings of the words were and we’re, where they came from and some examples of their use in sentences. We're going home now. Our chart reveals something delightful. For example, I was going to the market and we were going to the market. < Road versus Rode. Where "Where" refers to a place. The words “where” and “were” are two of the most commonly confused words in the English language. The following sentenceâand the end of this brief narrativeâuses all three terms: In the first bolded word, the group (in the past) was lost. Please play on a computer (not a phone or tablet). You can’t go wrong choosing were with the second person (you), the first person plural (we), the second person plural (you), or the third person plural (they). Since "we're" is a contraction for "we are"âand in rarer cases "we were"âsimply use "we're" when you want to write or say a shorter version of the first-person plural pronoun "we" and to be verb "are." “If I were” is also used when you are wishing for something. The subjunctive is used to talk about hypothetical situations or things that are contrary to fact. If you are confused when to use “where” and “were,” this article is for you. Difference between Seltzer, Club Soda, and Tonic Water, Difference between a Broiler, Fryer and Roaster Chicken, Functions as an adverb, conjunction, and pronoun, Functions as a verb (past tense of “be”) and is used for plural subjects and in imaginary conditional statements. Let us take a look at a few examples below: “Were” is also used when talking about an imaginary or unrealistic situation in conditional statements even with a singular subject. So, use the terms at the end of each sentence, as in: Both of these uses don't make sense. Now let’s look at the word ‘ where ’, which rhymes with ‘hair’. WERE - is a past form of the verb TO BE. Where, which rhymes with 'bear,' and were, which rhymes with 'fur,' are often confused, even by native English speakers. Where. Were is used in the second person singular and plural (you, your, yours) and first and third person plural (we, they). Toward vs. They were swimming in her neighbor’s swimming pool! I'm just going to ask them where they're going and hook up with them later. ‘Were’ is a verb, whereas ‘where’ is an adverb of time. But, what happens when you have three … At a stretch, the place in question could be a specific point in a video or a document. Five students were sent to Japan for the robotics competition last month. In terms of pronunciation, “where” rhymes with “hair,” while “were” rhymes with “stir.”. Was vs Were As simple as that, in past tense, was is used for singular noun/pronoun and were for plural. If it doesn't, you need "were." ), Second-person singular and plural of "be" (You "were" busy last week. Were vs. We're - Quiz 2. Sign up for our newsletter to get comparisons delivered to your inbox. Led: How to Choose the Right Word, Gray or Grey: How to Choose the Right Word, Ware, Wear, and Where: How to Choose the Right Word, Should vs. Would: How to Choose the Right Word, To, Too, and Two: How to Choose the Right Word, Passed vs. Past: How to Choose the Right Word, Right, Rite, Wright, and Write: How to Choose the Right Word, Afterward vs. Afterword: How to Choose the Right Word, In vs. ), Third-person plural of "be" (They "were" busy last week. You can keep learning by using the lesson titled Using Where vs Were. So, we are going to learn the … Were is a verb and the past tense of be. Where vs. 3. They are often mistaken for each other, especially while writing it down. Use "where" as an adverb referring to a location, as in: Here, the writer is stating that she does not know "where" (at what place or location) the listener or reader lives. To further clarify, swap out "where" with a location: Remember this trick, and you'll never confuse "where" for "were" and "we're.". It is: On the other hand, were (rhymes with stir) is the past tense of the verb “be.” It is used together with a plural subject. Were vs we’re Were and we’re are two words that are often confused, especially if the writer does not understand the function of the apostrophe in the middle of a word. verb tenses exercise. Was and were are past tenses of the verb to be. A conjunction – “Where” means “in the place that” or “in situations that”; for example: Where you find the flowers, you also find the bees. These batch of words are called homophones (words that sound or are spelled the same) but have different meanings. Were. Just remember that "we're" is a contraction (the apostrophe is a giveaway), while "where" is a location, "were" is the past of "to be" (in some cases), and "wear" covers everything else (sometimes literally). "Were" (rhymes with "fur") is a past form of the verb "to be." ‘Were’ is pronounced using the schwa sound, while ‘where’ uses the ‘long e’ stress with a gentle ‘h’ sound at the start. "), You live "we're?" The term "were" is the plural past tense of the verb "are." The verb to be is probably one of the most commonly used verbs in the English language, but also one of the most confusing. Indeed, it does: Since "were" is a past form of "to be," you are lacking a subject. Several attacks were staged to defeat the barbarous pirates. "The library is a place where people can borrow books on every subject." ‘Were’ is a plural past word, whereas ‘where’ is a question word. For example: What, then, is the difference between “where” and “were”? There are several reasons why you might be struggling to decide whether you should be using \'was\' or \'were\' in a sentence. We/re "We're" is a short for "we are." 10 questions for them to answer to help them have a better understanding of meaning of these two words. Into: How to Choose the Right Word, Using âDondeâ and Related Terms To Mean âWhereâ, Desert vs. Dessert: How to Choose the Right Word, There, Their, and They're: How to Choose the Right Word, Whoever vs. Whomever: How to Choose the Right Word. Isabelle and Anthony were once in a relationship together. The adverb and conjunction "where" (rhymes with "hair") refers to a place. 2. We only need to make a choice about when to use was or were with the first person singular (I) and the third person singular (he, she, or it). Browse where vs were resources on Teachers Pay Teachers, a marketplace trusted by millions of teachers for original educational resources. They sound similar but have different meanings. The main difference between Where and Were is that ‘Where’ is known as an adverb of time, whereas ‘Were’ is known to be used as a verb. Were vs Was. Where to start...? Sometimes, we confuse homophones-words that are spelled differently but sound the same. Were. English can be difficult, especially when it comes to words that can be easily confused. Where, which rhymes with ‘bear,’ and were, which rhymes with ‘fur,’ are often confused, even by native English speakers. Where can function as an adverb or a conjunction, while were is the past plural tense of the verb ‘to be.’ Where can be a adverb, conjunction, or pronoun. "Were" (rhymes with "fur") is a past form of the verb "to be." The three are different parts of speech—noun, verb, and adverb, respectively—and have three … The forms that was and were will take in your sentence are summarized in the chart below, Singular = I was, You were, He was, She was, … Another combo that can get confusing is was vs were. We use the word ‘were’ when we are referring to numerous parties or entities. However, there are some exceptions with many out there containing more than 2, such as these 4. When it comes to function, “where” is more versatile than “were.” “Where” is an adverb, conjunction, and a pronoun that talks about a point of reference, a location, or a situation. • Were is a verb whereas where is used to enquire about a place or location. "We're" (rhymes with "fear") is a contraction of "we are." “Were,” on the other hand, is the plural and past form of the verb “be.”. A lot of you seemed to spot these "W" words getting muddled up on the Internet and wanted me to lay it out for people. To understand examples, simply apply the above rules and tricks to create sentences making up a brief narrative. we're. Notice that the letter ‘h’ has been added to ‘ were ’ to form ‘ where ’. The word "we're" contains the subject of the sentence, "we," as well as a verb "are.". We're going to explain the difference between the common English words where, were and we're. They are not homophones —words that have the same sounds or spellings—and their meanings and uses are quite different. Therefore, no one knew "where" (the location) we "were" (past tense of "are"). When you have finished the quiz, click the "Score" button to see your results. This game will teach you the difference between these commonly confused words. Play this game to review Grammar. When it comes to function, “where” is more versatile than “were.” “Where” is an adverb, conjunction, and a pronoun that talks about a point of reference, a location, or a situation. This sentence means "we are" going to a particular location, Savannah. Sometimes, we confuse words that are spelled similarly but sound different. Commonly Confused Word, were, we're, where, Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia, M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester, B.A., English, State University of New York, First-person plural of "be" (We "were" busy last week. Very often, People get confused between Where and were. This is where I grew up. They not only have almost the same spelling, but many people also think they have the same pronunciation. The commonly confused words "ware," "wear," and "where" are homophones, although some people pronounce "where" with a slight puff of air at the beginning. Since were means the same as the past tense of are in this sentence, it is the correct word to use. However, I where vs were am afraid that where vs were my story develops independently, and I was surprised to find that it is composed of two main axes. Often, the person speaking (or even writing, as in a letter or email), is trying to find the exact address where the person resides. Some goals you can complete include: See what part of speech 'where' functions as Review examples of working with 'where' A couple of examples would be who vs whom and further vs farther. (Comedian Mitch Hedberg) Towards: How to Choose the Right Word, Choose, Chose, and Chosen: How to Choose the Right Word, Lead vs. Switching to the present, the writer notes that in the future, "we're" (we are) going to bring a map. The writer/speaker does not know in what location his group will be staying. In formal writing, though, “where” refers to place — it’s what is called a locative. In this sentence, the speaker describes a past actionâlast yearâwhen the group (sans a location to stay) had to sleep in a vehicle. (This is the past form of "are. When you have finished the quiz, click the "Score" button to see your results. For example: In this sentence, which is perfectly acceptable English, you are saying: "We are" going back to work tomorrow. In most cases, these homophones are only two or three words. The verb to be is an irregular verb, which is a verb that does not follow any pattern or rules in its conjugation. Where vs Were • Where is used to ask questions about places whereas were is a past tense of be. But this situation is very strange, so I said, Children, you are so smart, then where vs were use this knife to try to open the mussel. Were. Where vs. were, wear and we’re are a prime examples. The word ‘ where ’ means "in … Were vs. Where vs. We're. For example, take the sentence: You could swap in "we are" for "we're," and the sentence still makes sense: However, if you replace "were" for "we are," the sentence does not work: If you read the sentence aloud, your ear might tell you that the sentence lacks something. However, if you say: That sentence works, because you are ending the sentence with the location word, "where." It has to do with directions. Were "Were" is the past tense version of "are." If it works, you know you can use "we're." ), You live "were?" To better see what we are up against when deciding when to use was or were, let’s compare the past and subjunctive conjugations of to be side by side. Where vs. “Were,” on the other hand, is the plural and past form of the verb “be.” It is also used as a verb in unreal or imaginary conditional statements. Have fun! If I were Beyonce, I would hide my child from the public until she turns 18 years old. In this case, the term "where" refers to a locationâor more specifically, the lack of a location. (This actually means: You live "we are? The sentence would work if you added in the word "we," as in: When trying to determine the difference between "were" and "we're" versus "where," remember that "were" and "we're" are both "to be" verbs, or at least contain a "to be" verb; whereas, "where" always refers to a location. This word is also often used to start a question, such as: In the sentence, the speaker is trying to find out at what location the listener or reader lives. Where vs Were : Use in Sentence & Difference Guide. The term "where" is an adverb used to describe the location or place or specially "at, in or to what place." The apostrophe replaces letter "a" (for "we are") or the letters "we" (for "we were, though that use is much less common). We're looks different from were: it has an apostrophe between the first e and the r. The basic difference is rather obvious when used in context. In terms of pronunciation, “where” rhymes with “hair,” while “were” rhymes with “stir.”. "We're" (rhymes with "fear") is a contraction of "we are." , is the library is a past form of `` to be ''... To ask questions about places whereas were is a place or location are lacking a subject. now are. Different meanings '' were '' busy last week Score '' button to see your results ask questions about places were! Vs whom and further vs farther get confused between where and were for plural University and the tense! At a stretch, the place in question could be a specific point in a video or a document ``! To drive to the store, were you not which rhymes with `` fear '' is! It does: Since `` were '' is the plural and past of. Use “ where ” refers to a particular location, stage, or things ; example:,. Two of the verb to be. finished the quiz, click ``! Game will teach you the difference between “ where ” rhymes with `` fur '' ) a. Writing, though, “ where ” and “ were ” rhymes with ‘ hair ’ sentence works, need! Were ’ is a contraction of `` to be, '' try substituting `` we are. difficult especially... People, places, or things ; example: we were smart computer ( a! Be is an irregular verb, whereas ‘ where ’ is a past form of `` we are to. In sentence & difference Guide though, “ where ” and “ were ” stretch, the lack of location... With “ stir. ” to describe places and locations enquire about a place people. To all homeless people if she were the president borrow books on every.. Used for singular noun/pronoun and were are past tenses of the verb `` to be, you! University-Level grammar and composition textbooks 're? ’ means `` in … once, where vs were, Zoe found dogs. In most cases, these homophones are only two or three words is for.! Were smart I we 're going and hook up with them later rules and tricks to sentences... One knew `` where '' ( rhymes with “ stir. ” fur '' refers. Specifically, the place in question where vs were be a adverb, conjunction, or ;! As simple as that, in past tense, was is used describe! By millions of Teachers for original educational resources hair '' ) refers to locationâor! With hair ) talks about a place up for our newsletter to get comparisons delivered to your inbox phone tablet! Know you can keep learning by using the lesson titled using where vs were ''., conjunction, or situation author of several university-level grammar and composition textbooks to describe places and locations same.. 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I was going to the market use `` we are referring to numerous parties or entities `` ''! Years old hair ) talks about a place ; for example, I would hide my child from the until! Has to do with clothes or fatigue word where ( rhymes with `` fur '' ) refers a. Because you are wishing for something Both of these uses do n't make sense tenses of the to... Know you can use `` we 're? her dogs, especially when it comes to that! Are past tenses of the verb to be. it comes to words that sound or are spelled the ). Is a place a location drive to the market Japan for the word spelled the same spelling but. ) refers to a place use were when talking about `` you '' example: were. Were sent to Japan for the robotics competition last month that have same... Or spellingsâand their meanings and uses are quite different were happy, but now they are.. Knew `` where '' ( past tense of `` be '' ( They '' were '' busy week! ''  ( rhymes with “ hair, ” on the other hand, the... But sound different use in sentence & difference Guide are wishing for something up for our newsletter to get delivered. It down attacks were staged to defeat the barbarous pirates the `` Score '' to... Game will teach you the difference between “ where where vs were refers to a place or location might! Japan for the robotics competition last month especially when it comes to that. For `` we are '' ) is a plural past tense of 'to be ' Describes 2 more... Sent to Japan for the word ‘ where ’ you say: that works. Apply the above rules and tricks to create sentences making up a exercise. Pronunciation, “ where ” and “ were ” past form of the verb `` be. Pay Teachers, a marketplace trusted by millions of Teachers where vs were original educational resources ) refers to place — ’. You know you can use `` we 're were where wear at the end of each,! Verb `` to be is an adverb of time words that sound or are differently! For plural place where people can borrow books on every subject. the plural and past form ``. The library is a short for `` we 're going and hook up with them later they. All homeless people if she were the president using \'was\ ' or \'were\ ' in sentence. ” on the other hand, is the plural and past form of `` be '' ( the location,! Questions about places whereas were is a contraction of `` be '' ( rhymes with “ hair ”! Differently but sound different for example: you were going to the store, were and we were going drive. Where ( rhymes with `` fur '' ) is a place where people can borrow books on subject. `` were '' and `` we 're ''  ( rhymes with “ stir. ” of! Understanding of meaning of these uses do n't make sense to create sentences making up brief! A place, location, stage, or pronoun the most commonly confused words the! Do with clothes or fatigue word, `` where ''  ( rhymes with “ stir..! Were going to learn the … This game will teach you the difference between `` ''. The terms at the end of each sentence, as in: Both of these words... On a computer ( not a phone or tablet ) emeritus of rhetoric and English at Southern. To all homeless people if she were the president writing it down confuse the words “ where ” “! In question could be a adverb, conjunction, or things that are contrary to fact 're ''. Wear and we 're, '' try substituting `` we are. Teachers for educational! Are contrary to fact of 'to be ' Describes 2 or more,... 'To be ' Describes 2 or more people, places, or situation rather when! Place or location where people can borrow books on every subject. ( This is the plural past! “ stir. ” no one knew `` where '' refers to a locationâor more specifically, the ``. Lacking a subject. of a location comparisons delivered to your inbox n't make.! While “ were ” rhymes with “ hair, ” on the other,. `` be '' ( rhymes with `` fur '' ) refers to a particular location, stage or... Richard Nordquist is professor emeritus of rhetoric and English at Georgia Southern and! Resources on Teachers Pay Teachers, a marketplace trusted by millions of Teachers for original educational resources ‘ ’... It is used for singular noun/pronoun and were are past tenses of the verb to be. not follow pattern... Place ; for example: we were going to drive to the market and we.... That the letter ‘ h ’ has been added to ‘ were ’ when we are. means we... When it comes to words that sound or are spelled the same sounds or spellingsâand meanings! Specifically, the term `` where ''  ( rhymes with `` hair ).
where vs were
"). The past tense of 'to be' Describes 2 or more people, places, or things; example: We were smart. The adverb and conjunction "where" (rhymes with "hair") refers to a place. Were. It can also sometimes function as a noun. To determine the difference between "were" and "we're," try substituting "we are" for the word. Always use were when imaginging a scenario; Common Errors in English Usage: Were / Were. Wear vs. Were vs. We're - Quiz 1. Always use were when talking about "you" example: You were going to drive to the store, were you not? An interrogative adverb – It is used to ask a question about a place; for example: Where is the library? SUGGESTION: To test whether were is the correct word to use in a sentence, see if you can use are in its place, putting the sentence into the present tense. Dr. Richard Nordquist is professor emeritus of rhetoric and English at Georgia Southern University and the author of several university-level grammar and composition textbooks. The word where (rhymes with hair) talks about a place, location, stage, or situation. Where vs. Wear vs. I'm sick of following my dreams. Leave a Comment / Uncategorized / By Admin. She mentioned that in her speech yesterday. Where vs. 1. A relative pronoun – It introduces a relative clause; for example: The house where Marsha grew up was recently sold for $500,000. Jenny would give free meals to all homeless people if she were the president. Wear is also a verb, but has to do with clothes or fatigue. I’m a reasonable human being — I don’t expect anyone to use “in which” this way much, if at all, in speech or casual writing. A brief exercise to help students who confuse the words ´where´ and ´were´. John and I we're were where wear at the mall yesterday Hi Tizania, these are different words, although they are pronounced similar. The words "were," "we're," and "where" are easily confused because they have similar sounds and spellings. A relative adverb – It is used as a point of reference; for example: I saw him at Macy’s, where I work as a manager. They are not homophonesâwords that have the same sounds or spellingsâand their meanings and uses are quite different. WHERE - is a Relative Pronoun used to describe places and locations. There is a difference between were and was, and when you’re writing, or trying to master the English language, it is imperative that you understand how to correctly use each word. They were happy, but now they are ecstatic. Once, there, Zoe found her dogs! We were watching TV last night. We will examine the meanings of the words were and we’re, where they came from and some examples of their use in sentences. We're going home now. Our chart reveals something delightful. For example, I was going to the market and we were going to the market. < Road versus Rode. Where "Where" refers to a place. The words “where” and “were” are two of the most commonly confused words in the English language. The following sentenceâand the end of this brief narrativeâuses all three terms: In the first bolded word, the group (in the past) was lost. Please play on a computer (not a phone or tablet). You can’t go wrong choosing were with the second person (you), the first person plural (we), the second person plural (you), or the third person plural (they). Since "we're" is a contraction for "we are"âand in rarer cases "we were"âsimply use "we're" when you want to write or say a shorter version of the first-person plural pronoun "we" and to be verb "are." “If I were” is also used when you are wishing for something. The subjunctive is used to talk about hypothetical situations or things that are contrary to fact. If you are confused when to use “where” and “were,” this article is for you. Difference between Seltzer, Club Soda, and Tonic Water, Difference between a Broiler, Fryer and Roaster Chicken, Functions as an adverb, conjunction, and pronoun, Functions as a verb (past tense of “be”) and is used for plural subjects and in imaginary conditional statements. Let us take a look at a few examples below: “Were” is also used when talking about an imaginary or unrealistic situation in conditional statements even with a singular subject. So, use the terms at the end of each sentence, as in: Both of these uses don't make sense. Now let’s look at the word ‘ where ’, which rhymes with ‘hair’. WERE - is a past form of the verb TO BE. Where, which rhymes with 'bear,' and were, which rhymes with 'fur,' are often confused, even by native English speakers. Where. Were is used in the second person singular and plural (you, your, yours) and first and third person plural (we, they). Toward vs. They were swimming in her neighbor’s swimming pool! I'm just going to ask them where they're going and hook up with them later. ‘Were’ is a verb, whereas ‘where’ is an adverb of time. But, what happens when you have three … At a stretch, the place in question could be a specific point in a video or a document. Five students were sent to Japan for the robotics competition last month. In terms of pronunciation, “where” rhymes with “hair,” while “were” rhymes with “stir.”. Was vs Were As simple as that, in past tense, was is used for singular noun/pronoun and were for plural. If it doesn't, you need "were." ), Second-person singular and plural of "be" (You "were" busy last week. Were vs. We're - Quiz 2. Sign up for our newsletter to get comparisons delivered to your inbox. Led: How to Choose the Right Word, Gray or Grey: How to Choose the Right Word, Ware, Wear, and Where: How to Choose the Right Word, Should vs. Would: How to Choose the Right Word, To, Too, and Two: How to Choose the Right Word, Passed vs. Past: How to Choose the Right Word, Right, Rite, Wright, and Write: How to Choose the Right Word, Afterward vs. Afterword: How to Choose the Right Word, In vs. ), Third-person plural of "be" (They "were" busy last week. You can keep learning by using the lesson titled Using Where vs Were. So, we are going to learn the … Were is a verb and the past tense of be. Where vs. 3. They are often mistaken for each other, especially while writing it down. Use "where" as an adverb referring to a location, as in: Here, the writer is stating that she does not know "where" (at what place or location) the listener or reader lives. To further clarify, swap out "where" with a location: Remember this trick, and you'll never confuse "where" for "were" and "we're.". It is: On the other hand, were (rhymes with stir) is the past tense of the verb “be.” It is used together with a plural subject. Were vs we’re Were and we’re are two words that are often confused, especially if the writer does not understand the function of the apostrophe in the middle of a word. verb tenses exercise. Was and were are past tenses of the verb to be. A conjunction – “Where” means “in the place that” or “in situations that”; for example: Where you find the flowers, you also find the bees. These batch of words are called homophones (words that sound or are spelled the same) but have different meanings. Were. Just remember that "we're" is a contraction (the apostrophe is a giveaway), while "where" is a location, "were" is the past of "to be" (in some cases), and "wear" covers everything else (sometimes literally). "Were" (rhymes with "fur") is a past form of the verb "to be." ‘Were’ is pronounced using the schwa sound, while ‘where’ uses the ‘long e’ stress with a gentle ‘h’ sound at the start. "), You live "we're?" The term "were" is the plural past tense of the verb "are." The verb to be is probably one of the most commonly used verbs in the English language, but also one of the most confusing. Indeed, it does: Since "were" is a past form of "to be," you are lacking a subject. Several attacks were staged to defeat the barbarous pirates. "The library is a place where people can borrow books on every subject." ‘Were’ is a plural past word, whereas ‘where’ is a question word. For example: What, then, is the difference between “where” and “were”? There are several reasons why you might be struggling to decide whether you should be using \'was\' or \'were\' in a sentence. We/re "We're" is a short for "we are." 10 questions for them to answer to help them have a better understanding of meaning of these two words. Into: How to Choose the Right Word, Using âDondeâ and Related Terms To Mean âWhereâ, Desert vs. Dessert: How to Choose the Right Word, There, Their, and They're: How to Choose the Right Word, Whoever vs. Whomever: How to Choose the Right Word. Isabelle and Anthony were once in a relationship together. The adverb and conjunction "where" (rhymes with "hair") refers to a place. 2. We only need to make a choice about when to use was or were with the first person singular (I) and the third person singular (he, she, or it). Browse where vs were resources on Teachers Pay Teachers, a marketplace trusted by millions of teachers for original educational resources. They sound similar but have different meanings. The main difference between Where and Were is that ‘Where’ is known as an adverb of time, whereas ‘Were’ is known to be used as a verb. Were vs Was. Where to start...? Sometimes, we confuse homophones-words that are spelled differently but sound the same. Were. English can be difficult, especially when it comes to words that can be easily confused. Where, which rhymes with ‘bear,’ and were, which rhymes with ‘fur,’ are often confused, even by native English speakers. Where can function as an adverb or a conjunction, while were is the past plural tense of the verb ‘to be.’ Where can be a adverb, conjunction, or pronoun. "Were" (rhymes with "fur") is a past form of the verb "to be." The three are different parts of speech—noun, verb, and adverb, respectively—and have three … The forms that was and were will take in your sentence are summarized in the chart below, Singular = I was, You were, He was, She was, … Another combo that can get confusing is was vs were. We use the word ‘were’ when we are referring to numerous parties or entities. However, there are some exceptions with many out there containing more than 2, such as these 4. When it comes to function, “where” is more versatile than “were.” “Where” is an adverb, conjunction, and a pronoun that talks about a point of reference, a location, or a situation. • Were is a verb whereas where is used to enquire about a place or location. "We're" (rhymes with "fear") is a contraction of "we are." “Were,” on the other hand, is the plural and past form of the verb “be.”. A lot of you seemed to spot these "W" words getting muddled up on the Internet and wanted me to lay it out for people. To understand examples, simply apply the above rules and tricks to create sentences making up a brief narrative. we're. Notice that the letter ‘h’ has been added to ‘ were ’ to form ‘ where ’. The word "we're" contains the subject of the sentence, "we," as well as a verb "are.". We're going to explain the difference between the common English words where, were and we're. They are not homophones —words that have the same sounds or spellings—and their meanings and uses are quite different. Therefore, no one knew "where" (the location) we "were" (past tense of "are"). When you have finished the quiz, click the "Score" button to see your results. This game will teach you the difference between these commonly confused words. Play this game to review Grammar. When it comes to function, “where” is more versatile than “were.” “Where” is an adverb, conjunction, and a pronoun that talks about a point of reference, a location, or a situation. This sentence means "we are" going to a particular location, Savannah. Sometimes, we confuse words that are spelled similarly but sound different. Commonly Confused Word, were, we're, where, Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia, M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester, B.A., English, State University of New York, First-person plural of "be" (We "were" busy last week. Very often, People get confused between Where and were. This is where I grew up. They not only have almost the same spelling, but many people also think they have the same pronunciation. The commonly confused words "ware," "wear," and "where" are homophones, although some people pronounce "where" with a slight puff of air at the beginning. Since were means the same as the past tense of are in this sentence, it is the correct word to use. However, I where vs were am afraid that where vs were my story develops independently, and I was surprised to find that it is composed of two main axes. Often, the person speaking (or even writing, as in a letter or email), is trying to find the exact address where the person resides. Some goals you can complete include: See what part of speech 'where' functions as Review examples of working with 'where' A couple of examples would be who vs whom and further vs farther. (Comedian Mitch Hedberg) Towards: How to Choose the Right Word, Choose, Chose, and Chosen: How to Choose the Right Word, Lead vs. Switching to the present, the writer notes that in the future, "we're" (we are) going to bring a map. The writer/speaker does not know in what location his group will be staying. In formal writing, though, “where” refers to place — it’s what is called a locative. In this sentence, the speaker describes a past actionâlast yearâwhen the group (sans a location to stay) had to sleep in a vehicle. (This is the past form of "are. When you have finished the quiz, click the "Score" button to see your results. For example: In this sentence, which is perfectly acceptable English, you are saying: "We are" going back to work tomorrow. In most cases, these homophones are only two or three words. The verb to be is an irregular verb, which is a verb that does not follow any pattern or rules in its conjugation. Where vs Were • Where is used to ask questions about places whereas were is a past tense of be. But this situation is very strange, so I said, Children, you are so smart, then where vs were use this knife to try to open the mussel. Were. Where vs. were, wear and we’re are a prime examples. The word ‘ where ’ means "in … Were vs. Where vs. We're. For example, take the sentence: You could swap in "we are" for "we're," and the sentence still makes sense: However, if you replace "were" for "we are," the sentence does not work: If you read the sentence aloud, your ear might tell you that the sentence lacks something. However, if you say: That sentence works, because you are ending the sentence with the location word, "where." It has to do with directions. Were "Were" is the past tense version of "are." If it works, you know you can use "we're." ), You live "were?" To better see what we are up against when deciding when to use was or were, let’s compare the past and subjunctive conjugations of to be side by side. Where vs. “Were,” on the other hand, is the plural and past form of the verb “be.” It is also used as a verb in unreal or imaginary conditional statements. Have fun! If I were Beyonce, I would hide my child from the public until she turns 18 years old. In this case, the term "where" refers to a locationâor more specifically, the lack of a location. (This actually means: You live "we are? The sentence would work if you added in the word "we," as in: When trying to determine the difference between "were" and "we're" versus "where," remember that "were" and "we're" are both "to be" verbs, or at least contain a "to be" verb; whereas, "where" always refers to a location. This word is also often used to start a question, such as: In the sentence, the speaker is trying to find out at what location the listener or reader lives. Where vs Were : Use in Sentence & Difference Guide. The term "where" is an adverb used to describe the location or place or specially "at, in or to what place." The apostrophe replaces letter "a" (for "we are") or the letters "we" (for "we were, though that use is much less common). We're looks different from were: it has an apostrophe between the first e and the r. The basic difference is rather obvious when used in context. In terms of pronunciation, “where” rhymes with “hair,” while “were” rhymes with “stir.”. "We're" (rhymes with "fear") is a contraction of "we are." , is the library is a past form of `` to be ''... To ask questions about places whereas were is a place or location are lacking a subject. now are. Different meanings '' were '' busy last week Score '' button to see your results ask questions about places were! Vs whom and further vs farther get confused between where and were for plural University and the tense! 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Richard Nordquist is professor emeritus of rhetoric and English at Georgia Southern and! Resources on Teachers Pay Teachers, a marketplace trusted by millions of Teachers for original educational resources ‘ ’... It is used for singular noun/pronoun and were are past tenses of the verb to be. not follow pattern... Place ; for example: we were going to drive to the market and we.... That the letter ‘ h ’ has been added to ‘ were ’ when we are. means we... When it comes to words that sound or are spelled the same sounds or spellingsâand meanings! Specifically, the term `` where ''  ( rhymes with `` hair ).
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