When to use “I were”

The following is a reader submission.

I was surprised to see that you said, “I were” in a sentence. When I went to school, the nuns told us that “were” was only to be used with a plural subject such as you, they or we.

Has grammar changed and now it’s okay to say, “I were”?

Joan

Hey Joan,

Thanks for writing.

Unfortunately, the nuns were only partially right. “Were” is used with a plural subject in a past simple tense. But there are some other uses.

We use “were” in the past simple with the singular second person pronoun “you”.

We also use it when we speak in the subjunctive, which is a mood expressing wishes, possibility, or statements different from current fact.

Here are some examples:

  1. They were going to the store. (Past simple, third person plural)
  2. You were going to the store. (Past simple, second person singular)
  3. I wish I were going to the store. (Present subjunctive).
  4. If I were going to the store, which I am not, I would bring money. (Present subjunctive)

I hope that clears things up.

Kim

Email me your grammar questions. I’ll be sure to post the question and answer here.

By Kim Siever

I am a copywriter and copyeditor. I blog on writing and social media tips mostly, but I sometimes throw in my thoughts about running a small business. Follow me on Twitter at @hotpepper.

4 comments

  1. I am a year 5 teacher and really struggling with was and were for the following. Please can you help?
    If I were the head master/mistress
    If I was the head master/mistress)…I would teach ‘was’ as ‘I’ is singular but does the unfulfilled wish come in to it? (subjunctive)
    Are both correct?
    Many, many thanks for any help you can offer

    Sharon Taylor

  2. Hi Sharon,

    Thanks for writing.

    It would definitely be “If I were the head master/mistress”.

    Because the speaker is talking about something that isn’t true currently, it falls under subjunctive (wishes, possibility, or statements different from current fact).

    I hope that clears things up.

  3. Thank you so much for your prompt reply. It doesn’t help that Newsround (BBC) have it as ‘was’ on their website

    Best wishes
    Sharon Taylor

  4. Well, the use of “was” is popular. So is the usage of statements like “There’s 200 cars in that parking lot”, but popularity doesn’t make it right. Yet.

Comments are closed.