The United States was vs The United States were

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'The United States was' is used when referring to the country as a singular entity, while 'The United States were' is used when referring to the country as a collection of states or a group of people. The choice between 'was' and 'were' depends on whether you are treating the United States as a singular or plural noun.

Last updated: March 19, 2024

The United States was

This phrase is correct when referring to the United States as a singular entity.

Use 'the United States was' when talking about the country as a single entity or when focusing on the nation as a whole.

Examples:

The United States was founded in 1776.
During the war, the United States was a key ally.

Show examples from the web [+]

Jul 3, 2009 ... I always took it for granted that the use of singular verbs with "the United States" was just one another example of the North American penchant.
Oct 6, 2009 ... The EU is a loose connection of independent states with a weak centralized authority, much like the United States was before the Civil War…
"There was a time a few years ago when the United States was spoken of in the plural number," reads an article published April 24th, 1887, in The Washington ...
The United States was at first effectively neutral during World War II's early stages but began supplying material to the Allies in March 1941 through the ...

Alternatives:

the United States is
the United States has

The United States were

This phrase is correct when referring to the United States as a collection of states or a group of people.

Use 'the United States were' when emphasizing the individual states or the people within the country.

Examples:

The United States were divided on the issue.
In the past, the United States were not as powerful.

Show examples from the web [+]

Oct 6, 2009 ... From 1776 to 1789 the United States were a confederation; after 1789 it was a federal nation. The passage from plural to singular was ...
"Men said 'the United States are' — 'the United States have' — 'the United States were.' But the war changed all that." The quote continues (emphasis added):.
By that date, a total of 13.5 percent of all blacks in the United States were free. After that date, with the demand for slaves on the rise because of the Deep South's ...
After World War II, the Soviet Union and the United States were the two most powerful countries left in the world. The Cold War was a period of tension between ...

Alternatives:

the United States are
the United States have

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The United States was vs The United States were