Were
/wɜːr/noun
The past-tense form of “be” used with you, we, and they, and in hypothetical or contrary-to-fact statements.
Did you know?“Were” is a surviving piece of suppletive grammar: like “went” replacing “go,” its past form developed from a different ancient root than the present forms of “be.”
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*wes-
“To remain, dwell, or stay; the reconstructed source associated with the past forms of “be.””
Proto-Germanic
PGmc
*wēzun
“They were; the plural past form of the Germanic verb meaning “to be.””
Old English
Old English
wǣron
“Were; the plural past form of bēon or wesan, “to be.””
Middle English
Middle English
weren
“Were; a past-tense form used with plural subjects and often with “you.””
Modern English
English
were
“Past tense of “be,” also used in irrealis constructions such as “if I were.””