WERE Definition & Meaning | Dictionary.com

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were

[wur, wer, wair]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb

a second person singular past indicative; first, second, and third person plural past indicative; and past subjunctive of be.

we're

[weer]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

contraction of we are:
We're happy to see you.

were

/ wɜː, wə /

verb

the plural form of the past tense (indicative mood) of be and the singular form used with you. It is also used as a subjunctive, esp in conditional sentences

we're

/ ��ɪə /

contraction

we are

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Usage

See contraction.

Were, as a remnant of the past subjunctive in English, is used in formal contexts in clauses expressing hypotheses ( if he were to die, she would inherit everything ), suppositions contrary to fact ( if I were you, I would be careful ), and desire ( I wish he were there now ). In informal speech, however, was is often used instead

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Grammar Note

See subjunctive.

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of were¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English ��ǣ�� past subjunctive, ��ǣ�� 2nd-person singular past and ��ǣ��ǲ� 2nd-person plural past of wesan “to be”; cognate with Dutch, German waren, Danish var. See was

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of were¹

Old English wērun, wæron past tense plural of wesan to be; related to Old Norse vera, Old Frisian weria, Old High German �ɱ��ō�� to last

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

The guns were found by covert police six weeks after a hoax bomb, which targeted a peace event in Belfast attended by then Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney in March 2022.

From

"Learning through these finals is what makes this team good and we were able to do that."

From

Two years ago, with England 2-0 down in a home Ashes, reputations and possibly jobs were on the line.

From

Details of 39 account holders were shared with the tennis authorities and betting industry for further action.

From

Firefighters in Ventura County were battling two brush fires Monday night, which came on the heels of a warning by forecasters that this week would bring elevated fire weather conditions.

From

wept weren't

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