i was not there vs i were not there

The correct phrase is "I was not there." The verb "was" is the correct past tense form of the verb "to be" when referring to the first person singular pronoun "I." Using "were" in this context is grammatically incorrect.

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Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: October 30, 2024 • 13180 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"i was not there"

This phrase is the correct way to express that you were not present in a specific location in the past. Use "was" with the pronoun "I" in past tense statements.

Examples:

I was not there when the accident happened.
She said I was not there at the time.
I was not there to witness the event.
He was not there to receive the award.
I was not there for the meeting.

Show examples from the web [+]
Last updated: November 14, 2024

Jan 13, 2018 ... You have to say “I was not there.” OR “I wasn't there.” This is the Past tense of the verb “To be":— I was/ you were/ he,she, ...
“I Was Not There” is about the elusive experience of complete presence. Across three scenes, the song describes fleeting moments of clarity and wholeness.
Oct 4, 2022 ... "KEEP POUNDING" I was not there the first time he said it, but I felt its impact. For those outside of Charlotte, Sam was a LB coach for us, ...
plagued by sad memories. I repeat. I was not there. Photographic evidence is not admissible. People took so much trouble and all their efforts went for ...
Jun 28, 2024 ... Cougar in the area but I was not there , Misery Mode. Is it bugged on Misery Mode ? Gameplay. later edit : I just saw they are taking the ...
Even Though I Was Not There: SA Duet or Solo Voice – Rebecca Welker. If the PDF doesn't load, try refreshing the page, using a different browser, or clearing ...
Jun 26, 2024 ... I Was Not There. (The first few paragraphs of this post reference Job 38:1-11.) I wasn't there. I wasn't there when the earth's foundations ...
May 25, 2024 ... Practice billed insurance for dates I was not there. Plan Benefits. I think I have followed all of the rules for this forum, so here goes ...
As If I Was Not There. by Peter Pringle. A man faces the death penalty for a crime he did not commit. Share.
Mar 5, 2020 ... I was not there, fortunately. But I knew what was being planned, and I did nothing to stop it. My friends and I were members of the Weather ...

This phrase is incorrect in standard English usage.

"i were not there"

Avoid using "were" with the pronoun "I" in past tense statements. Stick to using "was" for the first person singular pronoun.

Show examples from the web [+]
Last updated: November 14, 2024

Jan 13, 2018 ... ... I were not there.” or “I hated the weather so much that I wished I were not there.” (These are called “contrary to fact” or ...
... I were not there. They truly celebrate life and are now dedicated to giving back to those less fortunate. Jack Nicklaus won 18 Majors - an achievement I ...
Sniff sniff, like a sneeze that had fallen asleep; then he turned about and limped out the door as if I were not there, had never lived there, would never ...
Apr 17, 2019 ... ... I were not there to make new friends or meet new people, we were there to absorb the program material. At many of the corporate events ...
May 17, 2021 ... When I arrived he was immersed in his work and continued on as if I were not there. The Linotype keyboard was very wide and had 90 keys ...
But Bobby and I were not there to while away the weekend like the others. We were there to say goodbye. Bobby's tears still ran fresh on his cheeks from a ...
I was already being treated as though I were not there. Or perhaps it makes more sense to think of things the other way around: it is those on the phone who ...
Jan 1, 1970 ... I would be missed if I were not there. Not at first, not in the frenzy, but later. Without me, no outlines, no profiles come clear. The very ...
Sep 19, 2019 ... Â She wanted the panelists to speak freely,Â as if I were not there, and discuss the things that they wanted to discuss, good, bad, or whatever.
Nov 18, 2011 ... ... I were not there taking their picture. This helps me get my subject to look the most relaxed and natural. After they do that, I might ask ...

Alternatives:

I was not there
I wasn't there
I was absent
I wasn't present
I didn't go there

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i was not there vs i were not there

"i was not there"

"i were not there"

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