he were crying vs he was crying

The correct phrase is "He was crying." The verb "was" is the correct past tense of the verb "to be" when used with the pronoun "he." The phrase "He were crying" isn't correct in standard English.

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Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: March 03, 2025 • 6163 views

This phrase is incorrect in standard English.

"he were crying "

The correct form is "he was crying," using the past tense form of the verb "to be" with the pronoun "he."

Show examples from the web [+]

You know, I'd get it if he were crying or depressed, and I know we all deal with it different ways, but this is not grieving.
She was screaming with wild fury, and the kids were crying.
You were crying, and a little paralegal work wouldn't do that.
I heard most girls were crying by number seven.
Your brother told me that you were crying.
For some reason, It felt like you were crying.
A lot of people were crying in the movie theater.
Because I thought you were crying, and I was like...
You were crying in the break room, which I have specifically forbidden.
Parents were crying, claiming a miracle.
Someone said you were crying In the parking lot.
I liked you better when you were crying.
I looked around and all the cops were crying.
I thought you were crying, but I was wrong.
They were crying and calling for their mommy and daddy.
I realized the best part of that crowd were crying.
But social services started getting anonymous calls that when I was over there, they were crying or whatever.
You were crying so hard last night,
I got some of your message but then I think you were crying and we got cut off, so could you call me on...
You were crying and babbling about the Hamptons, so I had to put you down.

Alternatives:

he was crying
he cried
he had been crying
he used to cry
he would cry

This phrase is the correct form in standard English.

"he was crying"

Use "he was crying" to describe an action that happened in the past, with the subject pronoun "he" and the verb "to be" in the past tense.

Examples:

He was crying when I arrived.
Yesterday, he was crying because he lost his favorite toy.
He was crying during the sad movie.
When he heard the news, he was crying uncontrollably.
At that moment, he was crying tears of joy.

Show examples from the web [+]

From what I could ascertain, he was crying.
And this old man came running after us and he was crying.
He didn't want you to abandon him, he was crying.
He was standing at the border and he was crying.
It probably just sounded like he was crying.
Well, you see, I think he was crying.
No, he was crying and nobody cared, so I took him.
When he came over to her and turned her over, he was crying.
Even if he was crying, when he saw his windmill he would smile!
Just Jimmy, and he was crying, saying he was sorry and all.
He was crying, more scared than sad.
He was crying, and then he just hung up.
He was crying, he missed his mommy.
He was crying, insisting he'd seen a ghost.
He was crying while getting soaked by the rain.
He was crying and begging me to let him go, but I wouldn't.
He was crying - when it just came and took him.
He was crying in there, When his mother Was on the stand.
He was crying for his mom, and his mom wasn't around.
Anybody he caught, if he didn't kill him in a fight, he'd kill him right there... ...even if he Was crying.

Alternatives:

he cried
he had been crying
he used to cry
he would cry
he had cried

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he were crying vs he was crying

"he were crying "

"he was crying"

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