Explanation between “are” and “were”
“Are” and “were” are both forms of the verb “be,” but they are used in different tenses. “Are” is the present tense form of the verb, while “were” is the past tense form.
In the present tense, “are” is used to indicate that an action is taking place or is currently true. For example, “We are going to the park” or “They are happy.”
In the past tense, “were” is used to indicate that an action took place or was true in the past. For example, “We were at the park yesterday” or “They were happy before the accident.”
It’s also worth noting that “were” is also used in the subjunctive mood, which is used to express hypothetical or non-real actions, such as “If I were you, I would take that job.”
In summary, “are” is used to indicate present tense, and “were” is used to indicate past tense or non-real actions in the subjunctive mood.
Present Tense “Are”
In the present tense, “are” is the second person singular and all plural forms of the verb “be.” It is used to indicate that an action is currently taking place or is true in the present moment.
“Are” is used with the pronouns “you,” “we,” “they,” and “I” to indicate that an action is ongoing or present. For example:
- “You are eating lunch.”
- “We are playing soccer.”
- “They are studying for the exam.”
- “I am feeling tired.”
It can also be used in questions, such as:
- “Are you ready for the meeting?”
- “Are we going to the party tonight?”
- “Are they coming to the concert?”
- “Am I late for the appointment?”
In summary, “are” is the present tense form of the verb “be.” It indicates that an action is ongoing or present in the moment, and it is used with the pronouns “you,” “we,” “they,” and “I”.
Past Tense “Were”
In the past tense, “were” is the second person singular and all plural forms of the verb “be.” It is used to indicate that an action took place or was true in the past.
“Were” is used with the pronouns “you,” “we,” “they,” and “I” to indicate that an action has taken place in the past. For example:
- “You were eating lunch.”
- “We were playing soccer.”
- “They were studying for the exam.”
- “I was feeling tired.”
It can also be used in questions, such as:
- “Were you at the meeting yesterday?”
- “Were we going to the party last night?”
- “Were they at the concert last weekend?”
- “Was I late for the appointment yesterday?”
It’s also worth noting that “were” is also used in the subjunctive mood, which is used to express hypothetical or non-real actions, such as “If I were you, I would take that job.”
In summary, “were” is the past tense form of the verb “be.” It indicates that an action took place or was true in the past, and it is used with the pronouns “you,” “we,” “they,” and “I”. It is also used in the subjunctive mood to express hypothetical or non-real actions.
Difference Between Are and Were
Differences in Formality
The difference in formality between “are” and “were” is minimal, as both words are forms of the verb “be” and are used in specific grammatical contexts. However, in some cases, the use of “are” may be considered more informal, while the use of “were” may be considered more formal.
For example, in written or formal speech, “were” is often used instead of “was” when talking about hypothetical or unreal situations, such as “If I were you, I would take that job.” This is known as the subjunctive mood and is considered more formal.
On the other hand, in spoken or informal language, “are” is more commonly used in place of “was” in this same context, such as “If I was you, I would take that job.”
Another example is in the past tense, “were” is often used in more formal or written language to indicate an action that took place in the past, whereas “was” would be used in informal or spoken language.
It’s worth noting that both forms “are” and “were” are correct and have their usage, but the formality level of the context will determine which form will be more appropriate to use.
Differences in Subjunctive Mood
The subjunctive mood is used to express hypothetical or non-real actions and states. It is used to express things that are not true or things that are desired or imagined. The subjunctive mood is often used in formal or written language and is less common in informal or spoken language.
One of the main differences between “are” and “were” in the subjunctive mood is their usage in the present and past tenses, respectively.
“Are” is used in the present subjunctive to express a hypothetical or non-real action or state in the present. For example, “If I were you, I would take that job” or “I wish I were taller.” In these examples, the speaker is expressing an unreal or hypothetical situation that they are not currently in.
“Were” is used in the past subjunctive to express a hypothetical or non-real action or state in the past. For example, “If I had known, I would have been there” or “I wish I had studied harder.” In these examples, the speaker is expressing an unreal or hypothetical situation that didn’t happen in the past.
In summary, “our” and “were” are both used in the subjunctive mood to express hypothetical or non-real actions, states, or situations. “Are” is used in the present subjunctive and “were” is used in the past subjunctive.
Common Confusions
One of the most common confusions with “are” and “were” is their use in the present and past tenses, respectively.
“You are” vs “You were” “Are” is used in the present tense to indicate that an action is currently taking place or is true in the present moment, while “were” is used in the past tense to indicate that an action took place or was true in the past. For example, “You are tired” versus “You were tired yesterday.”
“They are” vs “They were” Similarly, “They are” is used in the present tense to indicate that an action is currently taking place or is true in the present moment, while “They were” is used in the past tense to indicate that an action took place or was true in the past. For example, “They are studying for the exam” versus “They were studying for the exam yesterday.”
“We are” vs “We were” Again, “We are” is used in the present tense to indicate that an action is currently taking place or is true in the present moment, while “We were” is used in the past tense to indicate that an action took place or was true in the past. For example, “We are going to the park” versus “We were at the park yesterday.”
It’s also worth noting that “are” and “were” are also used in the subjunctive mood, which is used to express hypothetical or non-real actions, such as “If I were you, I would take that job.” However, the subjunctive mood is less common in spoken or informal language, so it’s less likely to confuse.
In summary, the main confusions between “are” and “were” is their usage in present and past tenses, respectively. It’s important to pay attention to the context, the subject, and the verb tense used in a sentence to use the correct form.
Conclusion
“are” and “were” are both forms of the verb “be,” but they are used in different tenses. “Are” is the present tense form of the verb and is used to indicate that an action is currently taking place or is true in the present moment, while “were” is the past tense form of the verb and is used to indicate that an action took place or was true in the past.
It’s also worth noting that “were” is also used in the subjunctive mood, which is used to express hypothetical or non-real actions, such as “If I were you, I would take that job.”
The difference in formality between “are” and “were” is minimal, but in some cases, the use of “are” may be considered more informal, while the use of “were” may be considered more formal.
The main confusions between “are” and “were” is their usage in present and past tenses, respectively. It’s important to pay attention to the context, the subject, and the verb tense used in a sentence to use the correct form.
It’s important to understand the differences between “are” and “were” to use them correctly in the English language and improve your communication skills.
