Visit the English Grammar Rules page to learn more. ''Was'' and ''were'' are both the past tense forms of the verb ''be,'' which is used to show a noun's state of being, or used as a helping verb in connection with other verbs. 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, It was. Select a subject to preview related courses: The third person refers to when the speaker is referring to another person who is neither the speaker nor the listener, as there are now three people involved. We were so excited to go to the concert last night. If the noun is plural, you use were. EnglishForward.com | The Internet's Largest Learn English Community | Be careful! I wasn’t late for school this morning. You can use a semi-colon, or you can use a conjunction plus a comma. Were is used in the second person singular and plural (you, your, yours) and first and third person plural (we, they). study My advice is to look for subjunctive mood on the Internet. For example: There was a dog in the road. succeed. We were looking for a reason to invite you; obviously, we didn’t find one. Study.com has thousands of articles about every A wish is the desire or hope for something that cannot or probably will not happen.Always remember this rule about the usage of was and were: use were with expressions that are hypothetical, wishful, imagined, desired, doubtful, and otherwise contrary to fact—that is to say, not real. We have already established that ''was'' and ''were'' are both in the past tense, indicating things that have already happened. For example: ''Was'' and ''were'' are both past tense forms of the verb ''be,'' which can take several forms. Already registered? I was you were She was He was It was We were They were. Services. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you Changes in a verb's form are known as conjugations, and they are based on a verb's tense, person, and number. Determining whether to use none was or none were can indeed be tricky and require some analysis. You were really good in the basketball game last week. We were tired yesterday.. The pronouns who, that, and which become singular or plural depending on the subject. Remember! There is one exception to this rule, however. Here are a couple examples: I was going to tell you, but I couldn’t. Incorrect: There were no clouds in the sky, I went for a jog. Don't Use an Apostrophe to Form a Plural . | {{course.flashcardSetCount}} As Well As: Meaning, Comma Usage & Example Sentences, Biological and Biomedical When are you going to tell me who was asking for my number? Their use depends on the person and number. 'Was' and 'were' are both past tense versions of the verb 'be,' and knowing which one to use depends on the person and number of the noun doing the action. When I was in a hurry, I usually skipped my breakfast. Anyone can earn For instance: Get access risk-free for 30 days, 's' : ''}}. However, during a conversation with an Earthling cat, I encountered an example of the subjunctive mood. Rule #9: Don’t Use a Comma Between Two Independent Clauses (Without a Conjuction) If you have two independent clauses, you can’t just use a comma to join them. The easiest way to think about a verb's person is to picture three people: a person who is speaking, a person who is listening, and another person who is neither speaking nor listening. Test yourself with these sentences. Sitemap. If she were my daughter, I wouldn’t let her drop out of school. Being from another planet (technically the moon), the above situation does not apply to me. Hi, the rule here is not related to "I was" or "I were" but with "wish" structure, which always refers to a plural form of "Be" = "I wish I were there", "I wish you were here", "I wish she were here" and so forth. According to their rules, you must use the subjunctive form were if you want to speak and write correctly. (NOT If she was my daughter, …). Many people prefer "If I was" because it goes along with the present tense "I was" rather than adopting the plural. Third person, like first person, uses ''was,'' as shown in these sentences: All of the previous examples are singular in number because the noun is just one person or thing. If they were really interested in the offer, they would contact you. In your case, you mention that the sentence contained the phrase none of these . Third person is also used for animals and objects. first two years of college and save thousands off your degree. Rule 5. If the noun is singular, you use was. They were going home right after the show. Grammar Rule Examples. and career path that can help you find the school that's right for you. Tense refers to when the action takes place, while person and number both describe the noun that is doing the action. 'Was' and 'were' are both past tense versions of the verb 'be,' and knowing which one to use depends on the person and number of the noun doing the action. She was with her friends last Saturday. Yet another traditional rule requires you to use were rather than was in a contrary-to-fact statement that follows the verb wish: I wish I were (not was) lighter on my feet. For plural nouns, use ''were'' regardless of person. Use were if the introductory clause expresses something that is contrary to fact. He has taught college English for 5+ years. [email protected]. To learn more, visit our Earning Credit Page. Log in or sign up to add this lesson to a Custom Course. Enrolling in a course lets you earn progress by passing quizzes and exams. Earn Transferable Credit & Get your Degree, Simple Past Tense: Rules, Uses & Practice, Punctuation Lesson for Kids: Rules & Examples, ESL Possessive Pronouns: Games & Activities, Present Continuous Tense: Definition & Examples, Verbs Lesson for Kids: Definition & Examples, Conjunctions Lesson for Kids: Definition & Example, Prepositions Lesson for Kids: Definition & Examples, Common Core ELA - Speaking and Listening Grades 11-12: Standards, AP English Literature: Homework Help Resource, Smarter Balanced Assessments - ELA Grades 6-8: Test Prep & Practice, 12th Grade English: Homework Help Resource, Middle School Language Arts: Lessons & Help, HiSET Language Arts - Reading: Prep and Practice. The common rule that determines how you use “was” and “were” is that singular and plural rule. So if both forms do the same thing, why do we need both of them? Decisions Revisited: Why Did You Choose a Public or Private College? To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. Always use the verb ''was'' instead of ''were'' when speaking or writing in the first person. Use was for a past tense in which the facts are not known. Tense refers to when the action takes place, while person and number both describe the noun that is doing the action. Example: He is the only one of those men who is always on time. The Johnsons have sold all their CDs. courses that prepare you to earn A sure sign that you should use the subjunctive is when the word wish is used. All other trademarks and copyrights are the property of their respective owners. The word who refers to one.Therefore, use the singular verb is.. Use ''were'' for all plural nouns, regardless of the person. 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