I was vs i had

The phrases 'I was' and 'I had' are both correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'I was' is used to talk about a past state or action, while 'I had' is used to indicate possession or past actions. They are not interchangeable and should be used based on the specific meaning you want to convey.

Last updated: March 25, 2024 • 1140 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to refer to a past state or action.

"I was"

Use 'I was' when you want to talk about something that happened or a state you were in the past. It is the past tense of 'I am.'

Examples:

I was at the party last night.
She was happy to see her friends.
They were playing in the park.

Show examples from the web [+]

I was savouring my revolution, I was disappearing... far.
I was taken away from my family when I was nine years old.
I was saying something and I wasn't finished.
I was adopted by a white family when I was nine.
I was walking peacefully along the sea front when I was attacked.
I was Bitten when I was ten.
I was lucky I was funny.
I was listening to it last night when I was falling asleep.
I was in the forces for a couple years when I was young.
I was actually on house arrest, Because last year I was involved in a hit-and-run.
I was truthful, I was completely relaxed.
I was taking out the trash when I was attacked.
I was surprised how calm I was once we got started.
I was there, I was approached by the company.
I was sent into the field when I was only 10.
I wasn't walking back home the night I was killed.
I wasn't absolutely positive, whom I was speaking to.
I was stolen from my parents when I was small...
When I was your age, I was obsessed with individual freedom.
All the time I was drawing, I was listening to Vangelis.

Alternatives:

I used to be
I had been
I used to do

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate possession or past actions.

"i had"

Use 'I had' when you want to talk about something you possessed in the past or actions you did in the past. It is the past tense of 'I have.'

Examples:

I had a dog when I was a child.
She had already finished her homework.
They had a great time at the beach.

Show examples from the web [+]

But for all i had, I still wanted more.
I had said you can quit anytime.
Suddenly I had terrible chest pains.
I had a fleeting moment of self-doubt.
I had some time to think.
I had problems passing the bar exam.
I had no time for lunch...
I had finally discovered what road to follow.
I had my first piano student yesterday.
I had trouble understanding the sentence myself.
Not the threesome I had in mind.
And the last thought That i had...
i had three professors read your stories.
And, unfortunately, they didn't have what i had...
That trust, it was all i had.
I confess i had, until that moment, always supposed certainty to be rather a good thing.
For a really long time, that's all i had.
The minute I opened the email, I wished i hadn't.
I went out to get gas, and i had... Clams.
Whatever ups and downs your father and i had, And we had an awful lot of both...

Alternatives:

I possessed
I owned
I did

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I was vs i had

"I was"

"i had"

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