I were. vs I was.

Both "I were" and "I was" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "I was" is the correct form for the first person singular past tense of the verb "to be." On the other hand, "I were" is used in subjunctive mood or conditional sentences to express a hypothetical situation or a wish.

Last updated: March 30, 2024 • 1104 views

This phrase is correct when used in the subjunctive mood or conditional sentences to express a hypothetical situation or a wish.

"I were."

Use "I were" in sentences that express a hypothetical situation, a wish, or in conditional sentences. It is not used in standard past tense statements.

Examples:

If I were a bird, I would fly everywhere.
I wish I were taller.
If he were here, he would help us.
I would be happier if I were on vacation.
I wish I were able to speak French.

Show examples from the web [+]

Maybe it'd be easier if I were.
~ I wonder if I were. ~ What do you mean?
You must be making this up! I wish I were.
I wish I were.
Sorry - I wish I were.
Believe me, I wish I were.
As close as your father and I were.
You're so much more mature than Ally and I were.
I'm not who I were.
I hope you two are as happy as ken and I were.
And you may have succeeded in keeping us apart, but my son and your daughter are written in the stars, just like Amelia and I were.
I... guess I just hope Ashley and I can be as happy as you and I were.
I wish I were.
I wish I were. I'm not an investigative reporter.
Sometimes I wish I were.
I wish I were.
I think I were.
Like Jared and I were.
As if I were.
I wish I were.

Alternatives:

If I was a bird, I would fly everywhere.
I wish I was taller.
If he was here, he would help us.
I would be happier if I was on vacation.
I wish I was able to speak French.

This phrase is the correct form for the first person singular past tense of the verb "to be." It is used in standard past tense statements.

"I was."

Use "I was" when referring to actions or states that occurred in the past. It is the standard past tense form of the verb "to be."

Examples:

Yesterday, I was at the park.
When I was young, I used to play soccer.
I was happy to see you.
She said she was tired.
I was in a hurry, so I left early.

Show examples from the web [+]

It looked like fishing nets from where I was.
So maybe you should just beam me back where I was.
Suddenly I just didn't know where I was.
You said you wanted to know who I was.
Some of them shooting were even younger than I was.
Sounds like you were as blindsided by this as I was.
All these years and you knew who I was.
Listen, I told you where I was.
I moved around at first, afraid to tell anyone where I was.
I told Mark where I was.
You're so much smarter than I was.
My wife seemed not to be as concerned as I was.
He was captured before I was.
Wondered why you didn't ask me who I was.
Trust me, he was probably more embarrassed than I was.
The priest said that he knew what I was.
Can be better than I was.
How confused and worried I was.
He told a security guard where I was.
I forgot how innocent I was.

Alternatives:

Yesterday, I were at the park.
When I were young, I used to play soccer.
I were happy to see you.
She said she were tired.
I were in a hurry, so I left early.

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I were. vs I was.

"I were."

"I was."

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