i was not here vs i were not here

The correct phrase is "I was not here." When using the first-person singular pronoun "I," the verb "was" is the correct past tense form of the verb "to be." The verb "were" is used with the second person singular and plural pronouns. It is not used with "I."

Explained by Camille
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: February 24, 2025 • 6027 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"i was not here"

Use 'I was not here' when referring to yourself in the past and indicating that you were not present in a specific location.

Examples:

I was not here yesterday.
I was not here when you called.
I was not here for the meeting.

Show examples from the web [+]

I was not here for this party.
I was not here when you arrived.
If H.R. asks, I was not here.
What did you do when I was not here?
Heimdall, I was not here to protect Odin before, when he needed me.
I was not here in '76, the last time the King cut his way through these streets.
Last night my report was called and I was not here.
Sorry I was not here to greet you earlier.
I am sorry I was not here at the beginning.
Mr President, I am sorry I was not here for the initial part of that very passionate diatribe against liberalisation.
Sorry I was not here to greet you earlier.
But my country's a part of me, and if I was not here, I would be betraying myself.
I am sorry that I was not here earlier, John.
Mr President, first of all, I would like to thank Mrs Jackson, because, although I was not here when the resolution was debated, she accepted four of the five amendments we tabled.
I left the Chamber temporarily because I was called out urgently and I had left my bag here;I was not here when the telephone rang.
I simply wish it to be recorded that I was not here to vote on some of the earlier motions because of air traffic control.
I was not here because you threw me off the deck.
Madam President, firstly I hope you can correct an earlier decision not to accept a vote from me because I was not here. I am here.
I was not here.
I was not here.

This phrase is incorrect in standard English.

"i were not here "

Show examples from the web [+]

If I were not here to make wine that makes nothing, all would die of hunger.
However, I don't want to disturb you, do as if I were not here.
Would the loudspeakers not disturb you, if I were not here?
You know, Ray, I think were not needed here.
I believe you were not here?
Mr Herman, I know how punctual you normally are, so when I saw you were not here I knew something important must have happened.
I told her you were not here.
I told them you were not here.
If I were not a prisoner here, my fortune stolen from me,

Alternatives:

I was not here
I wasn't here
I had not been here
I had not been present
I had not arrived

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i was not here vs i were not here

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