What Does Were Mean?
Were is the past tense of "are," used with plural subjects (they were, we were) and in the subjunctive mood (if I were you).
Were functions as a verb (past tense of 'be').
What Does We're Mean?
We're is a contraction of "we are." The apostrophe replaces the space and the "a" in "are."
We're functions as a contraction (we are).
Were vs We're: Key Differences
| Were | We're |
|---|---|
| Past tense of 'are' | Contraction of 'we are' |
| Describes past events | Describes present events about 'we' |
| "They were here" | "We're here now" |
Examples of Were in a Sentence
- They were late to the meeting.
- We were surprised by the announcement.
- If I were you, I'd accept the offer.
- The streets were empty on the holiday.
Examples of We're in a Sentence
- We're going to the concert tonight.
- We're happy to help with your project.
- I think we're lost.
- We're almost finished with the report.
How to Remember the Difference
Replace the word with "we are." If the sentence still makes sense, use we're. If it does not (because the sentence is about the past or about someone else), use were.
Common Mistakes
| Incorrect | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| We're at the park yesterday. | We were at the park yesterday. | Past events require 'were.' |
| Were going to be late! | We're going to be late! | 'We are going' contracts to 'we're.' |
| If I we're you, I'd study harder. | If I were you, I'd study harder. | Subjunctive mood uses 'were.' |
If you are unsure which word fits, try Rephrasely's free grammar checker to catch errors instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What about 'where'?
'Where' asks about location. It sounds different from 'were' and 'we're' but is sometimes confused in writing. 'Where were we? We're lost.'
When do you use 'were' with 'I'?
'I were' is used in the subjunctive mood for hypothetical or contrary-to-fact situations: 'If I were taller,' 'I wish I were there.' In the indicative (stating facts), use 'I was.'
Is 'we're' appropriate in formal writing?
Contractions like 'we're' are common in business writing and journalism. In very formal academic papers, some style guides prefer 'we are' spelled out.