Understanding the Usage of 'We Were' and 'We Was' in English Grammar

English grammar can often be confusing, especially when it comes to the verb 'to be.' This article aims to clarify the rules and usage of 'we were' and 'we was' in different contexts, helping you understand which form is correct and when.

Rules for Using 'We Were' and 'We Was'

When using the verb 'to be' in the past tense, there are specific rules to follow based on the subject. For first, second, and third person plural (we, you, they), the correct form to use is 'were.' Conversely, for first, second, and third person singular (I, you, he, she, it), the form is 'was.'

Correct Usage with Plurals

For example, 'we were' is the correct form. Here are correct and incorrect examples:

Correct: We were playing cricket together. Incorrect: We was playing cricket together.

Contextual Usage

However, it's important to note that certain contexts can influence the usage of these forms. For instance, the phrase 'we was' can be acceptable in some informal, colloquial speech, particularly among teenagers. For example:

Acceptable: We was doing nuffink (a colloquial term). This is more common among younger generations or in certain dialects.

Punctuation and Ambiguity

There are cases where the correct form depends on the punctuation and context. For example:

Correct: We was the name of the famous novel by Russian author Evgeny Zamyatin.

However, usually, 'we were' is the correct form to use without ambiguity.

Correct Forms in Sentences

The correct forms can be used as follows:

Correct: We were at the red fort. Correct: Were we at the red fort yesterday?

Verb Forms of 'To Be'

To further understand the verb 'to be,' it's helpful to review its forms in different tenses:

Past Tense

In the past tense, the correct forms are as follows:

I was You were He, She, It was We were You were They were

These forms are used to describe a past state or condition that no longer exists.

Future Tense

In the future tense, we use 'will be' instead of the past forms:

I will be You will be He, She, It will be We will be You will be They will be

These forms are used to express anticipation or future states.

Conclusion

Understanding the correct usage of 'we were' and 'we was' is crucial for maintaining clear and correct English communication. Always use 'we were' in formal writing and in most spoken contexts, unless you are using a regional or colloquial form that is commonly accepted. Familiarizing yourself with the various forms of 'to be' can help you better structure your sentences and avoid common grammatical errors.