were
pronunciation
How to pronounce were in British English:
UK [wə(r)]
How to pronounce were in American English:
US [wə]
Word Origin
- were (v.)
- Old English wæron (past plural indicative of wesan) and wære (second person singular past indicative); see was. The forms illustrate Verner's Law (named for Danish linguist Karl Verner, 1875), which predicts the "s" to "z" sound shift, and rhotacism, which changed "z" to "r." Wast (second person singular) was formed 1500s on analogy of be/beest, displacing were. An intermediate form, wert, was used in literature 17c.-18c., before were reclaimed the job.
Example
- 1. We were classmates in primary school .
- 2. People were hungry for information .
- 3. Some things were the same .
- 4. We were the only audience .
- 5. Some goals were more elusive .