were

From Wiktionary

Contents 1 Pronunciation 1.1 Homophones 2 Verb 2.1 Note

[change] Pronunciation

stressed

• (UK) IPA: /wɜː(ɹ)/, SAMPA: /w3:(r\)/
• (US) enPR: wûr, IPA: /wɝ/, SAMPA: /w3`/

unstressed

• (UK) IPA: /wə(ɹ)/, SAMPA: /w@(r\)/
• (US) enPR: wər, IPA: /wɚ/, SAMPA: /w@`/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

[change] Homophones

• whirr (in accents with the wine-whine merger)

[change] Verb

Plain form be

Simple present am, is, are

Simple past was, were

Past participle been

Present participle being

1. A form of the verb be used about the person you are talking to.

   Only you were doing it right.

2. A form of the verb be used about more than one person.

   We were going home.

   You all were staying late.

   They were all playing in the band.

3. A form of the verb be used with the word if.

   If I were rich, I would retire.

4. A form of the verb be used about things you wish for.

   I wish it were the weekend.

[change] Note

• In the last two examples, many people use was instead.