were
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were
(wûr)were
(wɜː; unstressed wə)were
(wɜr; unstressed wər)v.
we're
(wɪər)Were, Wered, Wering
a military force; a band of troops.were
Were is the plural form and the second person singular form of the past tense of be.
Were has a special use in conditional clauses when these clauses are used to mention situations that do not exist, or events that are unlikely to happen. When the subject of the clause is I, he, she, it, there, or a singular noun, were is sometimes used instead of 'was', especially in formal writing.
In conversation and in less formal writing, people usually use was.
Both was or were are now considered correct in clauses like this and are acceptable even in formal writing.
The fixed phrase 'If I were you' almost always contains were, even in informal English. Don't say 'If I was you'.
Be Careful!
Don't confuse were /wə/ with where /weə/. You use where to make statements or ask questions about place or position.