The Confusing Usage of the Verbs “Was” and “Were”
by Many words in the English language are misused today; many giving way to the common usage of them. Is this something we should accept or do we defend the original usage of them?
The original usage of many English words is dwindling today, as the English language is being damaged by many factors, such as the gravitation to, or the acceptance of, common usage, which ignores the correct way to use words. The words: there, their and they’re, are often pitifully misused. Phrases that include “went,” such as, “He went missing” are very commonly used today. Does that mean he went someplace to be missing? Did he “went” if he was taken? Phrases that start with “like,” such as, “Like, I saw him, today,” crucify the language.
Other words, such as the verbs, “was” and “were” are also, often misused today. For example, the comment, “If I was grading that, I’d give you a good score.” Are we talking about something that has already occurred or something that may (hypothetically) happen? The common usage of the verb “was” nowadays (used in past and future tenses), makes its usage confusing. I would rather use the verb “were” if I am talking about something that I might do, and “was” for something I have already done. For clarification, if I am talking about something I may do in the future, I may rephrase the comment to: “If I were to grade that, I’d give you a good score.” The justifications for the misuse of these verbs today, are they have changed to a common use and usage of them in informal communications.
Those of us who desire to influence, or responsible for teaching the proper usage of English words, should be careful not to give in to the popular, common and misuse of these words. Common usage in time can ruin a language and cause confusion.
To use English as correctly as possible, I use a simple rule of thumb: If I am talking in singular person, past tense, about something that has already occurred, I use the verb, “was.” If I am talking about something that may occur in the future, I use the verb, “were.”
Punctuation is also difficult for some writers. This is a subject that I will write more about in future articles, but for now, I will offer a simple, but useful rule of thumb for the usage of the semi-colon. Besides using it to separate lists where more information is provided about a particular item, it is used to join two connecting sentences. An example of the latter is, “The frightened boy jumped; he saw a snake.” If the related sentences could be joined by the conjunctive “and,” then a semi-colon can be used between the sentences.
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Post CommentJohn
On August 29, 2008 at 5:42 pm
Was is generally used for singular, and were is generally used for plural, however, were is used for for the subjective. An example of the subjective is, “If I were a bird, I could fly.” Were is also used for a present, contrary-to-fact situation. An example of a present, contrary-to-fact situation is,”If it were a precious gem, we can tell by checking having a jewler check it.”
john
On August 29, 2008 at 5:45 pm
In the above post, the last phrase of the last sentence has a typo. It should read, “If it were a precious gem, we can tell by having a jewler check it.”
Westbrook
On August 29, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Correct…very simply said. I did not want to go too deep on the subject…just enough to attract discussion. The reason I thought I would try to generate debate is the fact that even college professors are often using the verbs incorrectly…and, I don’t think they know it. The reason they attribute it to is, “everyone is using these verbs in a common way.”
Westbrook
On September 10, 2008 at 9:56 pm
Thanks John for your input. I agree with your comment, however, my beef, which I am trying to point out is today’s incorrect and confusing usage of the verbs was and were. “If I were a bird. I would fly” is correct. We are still talking about something hypothetically, and therefore were can be used in the future tense. When this same sentence is stated as, “If I was a bird, I would fly.” and meant to be something to occur in the future, it is wrong. “If I was to take you to dinner,” it would be fun.” This is suggesting something to occur in the future. Using the verb was is wrong, but even some educated people say it is okay because that’s how the verb is being used, in other words, the common usage.
Westbrook
On October 30, 2008 at 9:23 am
If there is interest in reading more articles addressing similar issues, and/or you would like to share some of yours with me, just click on my name here.
Passacaglia
On November 13, 2008 at 3:26 am
In using the verbs was and were with the word some, which is the correct form? I.e., Some on this forum was/were talking about elitism?
What are Trond credentials?
Passacaglia
On November 13, 2008 at 3:28 am
Sorry, a typo: Triond credentials?
Westbrook
On November 13, 2008 at 11:05 am
Passacaglia,
As I stated in my article, the verb “were” (used in singular or plural tense) is used in future conditional sentences (begins with if or until) to say what might happen (hypothetical): If I were to refuse they’d be very annoyed. Or, Were I to refuse they’d be very annoyed.
However, both “was” and “were” are the past tense of the verb Be. Was is the singular tense and were is the plural tense. The “some” in your question is referring to one or more individuals and is an adjective, e.g., some person, or some people. If you are referring to more than one person, and you are describing something that has already occurred, the verb were should be used.
I am not sure if you are a Triond participant. If not, Triond is a network where anyone may write and submit articles to be published (www.triond.com). When becoming a participant, you would submit your profile, something about yourself. This is your Triond credentials. If you read articles written by someone else and comment on them, you have a choice to offer your credentials to verify who you are. Click on my name and you will see my credentials. I hope this helps.
johnny yuma
On November 27, 2008 at 12:14 am
I enjoy learning about was/were and other things in the English language; unfortunately, what I learn doesn’t stick with me long. Then, I have to learn it all over again. I can remember it if I am using it constantly, but if I go a day or two without using or talking about it–I lose it.
As for our Triond credentials, I have attempted to post my comments with them and haven’t been able to yet. I don’t know why. I don’t really think it matters, but I am curious as to why I can’t do it.
Damon/johnny yuma
Westbrook
On November 27, 2008 at 7:25 am
Johnny, I am not sure why you cannot post your credential, but here is the basic of how to do it. When you make a comment on someone’s article, you must type in the alphanumerical code at the bottom before you sunmit in order for it to take. Before you submit, you will see an empty check box just below the code that you entered. The sentence along side of the box says, “Post your comment with your Triond credentials”. You must click on that box. Two fields will open. Type in your username that you use to get into Triond in the first field. In the second field, type in your password, then click submit. Now, here is a tip: Triond only gives you maybe ten or fifteen minutes to get your comment submitted or it will not take. Also, if you did not enter the code exactly as shown it will not take. The way I do it is. once I submit, I wait for the article to turn over, then I scroll down to my comment to see if it took. You will know if it took. If it did not, you will have another code at the bottom of you comment, which you must submit all over again. Enter the code, and your username and password again and go through the same procedure. Check your comment again. You will know it took because there will be no additional code to sbmit and you will see your username in color. Please let me know if this helped. I may submit this as an article. I am sure others probably have this problem.
arup goswami
On February 2, 2009 at 3:19 am
I observe the kind of expression that carry imaginary sense like if I were a bird etc. But my question is that when the subject is the plural form then what would be the verb in place of were in the imaginary expressions.
arup goswami
On February 2, 2009 at 3:55 am
I observe the kind of expression that carry imaginary sense like if I were a bird etc. But my question is that when the subject is the plural form then what would be the verb in place of were in the imaginary expressions.
Westbrook
On February 3, 2009 at 9:10 am
Passacaglia, if you are speaking of the subject “some” in your original question as more than one, then, the subject would be plural. In this case you do not need to use either verb, was or were. You seem to be referring to something that has already occurred. I would rephrase it to “Some on this forum talked about elitism.”
You asked in your second question, “When the subject is the plural form then what would be the verb in place of were in the imaginary expressions?”
Since the verb “were” is correctly used in the second person singular and plural and first and third person plural past indicative of be, and past subjunctive of be, it should not be used when the subject is plural in a statement referring to the future.. However, many speakers do use “were” when the subject is plural, e.g. “If we were to leave, it would anger him.” The more correct way of stating this is “If we leave, it would anger him.” The misuse of this verb e considered as “common usage” and is widespread with plural subjects. As I mentioned in my article, many accept common usage of words and may not consider them to be wrong.
Westbrook
On February 3, 2009 at 9:15 am
The second to the last sentence should read “The misuse of this verb is considered as “common usage” and is widespread with plural subjects.”
Bo Russo
On February 6, 2009 at 11:28 pm
When were this written? Just kidding,people buthcer the language.
Vera Crozier
On May 31, 2009 at 8:37 pm
Which is correct? I would take the quiz if I were/was younger.
Westbrook
On June 1, 2009 at 9:06 am
I use a simple rule of thumb: If I am talking in singular person, past tense, about something that has already occurred, I use the verb, “was.” If I am talking about something that may occur in the future, I use the verb, “were.”
The verb “were” (used in singular or plural tense) is used in future conditional sentences (begins with if or until) to say what might happen (hypothetical): If I were to refuse they’d be very annoyed. Or, Were I to refuse they’d be very annoyed.
The answer to your question is “were.” It is futuristic and conditional.