I đi với was hay were? Phân biệt sử dụng Was và Were

1. Was, were là gì?

Was, Were: Các dạng của tobe theo thì, chủ ngữ

Was, Were là hình thức quá khứ của động từ tobe. Trong các câu, các hình thức này sẽ được sử dụng theo thì và theo chủ ngữ tương ứng.

Example:

• She was a doctor when she lived in New York. (Cô ấy là bác sĩ khi cô ấy sống ở New York.)
• We were best friends in high school. (Chúng tôi là bạn thân nhất trong trường trung học.)
• The weather was sunny yesterday. (Thời tiết trời nắng vào ngày hôm qua.)

2. Detailed structure + comparison when using was/ were

Was is used for first and third person singular (I, he, she, it) in the past. 

Example:

• I was tired after a long day at work. (Tôi mệt sau một ngày làm việc dài.)
• She was a great singer when she was younger. (Cô ấy là một ca sĩ tuyệt vời khi cô còn trẻ.)
• It was a sunny day last Sunday. (Ngày Chúa Nhật qua trời nắng.)

Were is used for first person (I) and third person plural (we, they) in the past.

Example: 

• We were excited to go on our vacation. (Chúng tôi đã rất phấn khích khi đi nghỉ.)
• They were playing football in the park. (Họ đang chơi bóng đá ở công viên.)
• Last summer, we were in Italy, and they were in France. (Mùa hè năm ngoái, chúng tôi ở Ý và họ ở Pháp.)

3. Should I use was or were with I?

According to the guidance above, I typically goes with was. However, there are a few special cases where I always goes with were, which will be discussed below.

Example:

• They were not at the party last night. (Họ không có mặt tại buổi tiệc đêm qua.)
• I was in London two years ago. (Tôi đã ở London hai năm trước.)

4. Câu điều kiện loại 2 dùng was hay were

Cấu trúc của câu điều kiện loại 2: Nếu + Chủ ngữ + Were/Ved/V2, Chủ ngữ + Sẽ/Có thể…

Ví dụ:

• If I were rich, I would travel the world. (Nếu tôi giàu, tôi sẽ du lịch khắp thế giới.)
• If she were here, she would help you. (Nếu cô ấy ở đây, cô ấy sẽ giúp bạn.)
• If they were more organized, their project would be successful. (Nếu họ tổ chức tốt hơn, dự án của họ sẽ thành công.)

Vậy câu điều kiện loại 2 sử dụng were.

5. You đi kèm với was hoặc were

Bởi vì you là chủ ngữ số nhiều nên you sẽ đi cùng were.

For example:

• If you were more punctual, you would have a better reputation. (Nếu bạn đúng giờ hơn, bạn sẽ có danh tiếng tốt hơn.)
• If you was there on time, we could have started the meeting. (Nếu bạn đến đúng giờ, chúng ta đã có thể bắt đầu cuộc họp.)

6. When to use was were – Differentiate the usage of Was and Were

Both Was and Were are used to express actions or states of the subject in the past.

7. How to conjugate Was/Were in the past tense

7.1. Regarding was

Structure:

• Thể khẳng định:  I/He/She/It + was
• Thể phủ định: I/He/She/It + was not (còn được viết tắt là wasn’t)
• Thể nghi vấn: Was I/she/he/it…? 

For example:

• She was a talented musician. (Cô ấy là một nghệ sĩ tài năng.)
• I was not (wasn’t) at the party last night. (Tôi không có mặt tại buổi tiệc tối qua.)
• Was he at the meeting this morning? (Anh ấy có tham dự cuộc họp sáng nay không?)

7.2. Regarding were

Structure:

• Thể khẳng định: You/They/We + were
• Thể phủ định: You/They/We + were not (Còn được viết tắt là weren’t).
• Thể nghi vấn: Were You/They/We…? 

For example:

• They were very happy with the results. (Họ rất hạnh phúc với kết quả.)
• We were not (weren’t) in the office yesterday. (Chúng tôi không ở trong văn phòng ngày hôm qua.)
• Were you at the concert last night? (Bạn có ở buổi hòa nhạc tối qua không?)

8. Cases where I always use were

As mentioned, I usually use was with I, but there are still some cases where I use were as follows:

Second conditional sentence: If + S + Were/Ved/V2, S + Would/Could…

For example:

• If I were a millionaire, I would travel the world. (Nếu tôi là triệu phú, tôi sẽ đi du lịch khắp thế giới.)
• If she studied harder, she could get better grades. (Nếu cô ấy học chăm chỉ hơn, cô ấy có thể đạt điểm tốt hơn.)
• If it rained, we would stay indoors. (Nếu trời mưa, chúng tôi sẽ ở trong nhà.)

Second conditional wish sentence: S+ wish(es) + S + Were/Ved/V2…

Eg:

• I wish I were taller. (Tôi ước mình cao hơn.)
• She wishes she had more free time. (Cô ấy ước mình có nhiều thời gian rảnh hơn.)
• We wish it weren’t so hot today. (Chúng tôi ước hôm nay không nóng như vậy.)

9. Exercises on the usage of was were

Exercise 1: Choose the correct answer

1. ___ at the shop when you phoned?

• a) Was I
• b) Were I
• c) Wasn’t I
• d) Were not I

2. If ___ a superhero, I would soar.

• a) I was
• b) I were
• c) I’m
• d) I been

3. I desire I ___ taller.

• a) were
• b) was
• c) is
• d) am

4. ___ you at the gig last night?

• a) Were I
• b) Were
• c) Was
• d) Wasn’t

5. If ___ more orderly, I could complete my work punctually.

• a) I’m
• b) I’m being
• c) I was
• d) I were

6. I ___ not present at home when you called.

• a) were
• b) was
• c) am
• d) been

7. I desire I ___ more skilled in cooking.

• a) am
• b) was
• c) were
• d) have been

8. ___ Are you certain I ___ accurate about this?

• a) Are, were
• b) Were, are
• c) Were, was
• d) Was, am

9. If ___ in the position of president, I would enact some changes.

• a) I’m
• b) I were
• c) I have been
• d) I am

10. ___ Is there any remaining ice cream in the freezer?

• a) Was
• b) Were
• c) Are
• d) Be

Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks

1. She ___ very happy yesterday.
2. We ___ at the movies last night.
3. He ___ not feeling well last week.
4. They ___ excited to hear the news.
5. I ___ not ready for the test.
6. ___ you at the party on Saturday?
7. It ___ a beautiful day.
8. They ___ working late last night.
9. She ___ the best student in her class.
10. We ___ going to the beach this weekend.

Answers for exercise 1

1. a) Was I
2. b) I were
3. a) were
4. b) Were
5. d) I were
6. b) was
7. c) were
8. c) Were, was
9. b) I were
10. a) Was

Answers for exercise 2

1. Was
2. Were
3. Was
4. Were
5. Was
6. Were
7. Was
8. Were
9. Was
10. Are