Where, were, and we’re are three words often confused by English language learners due to their similar pronunciation. However, their meanings are quite different, with one referring to a place and the other being a verb. This article will explore the differences between where and were to help readers use these words correctly.
Where
Where is a word used when asking a question about a place or location. It should only be used when inquiring about a place or asking for the destination of a journey. Here are some examples to help illustrate the meaning of where:
• London is the city where the Queen lives.
• Where is your office?
• Where are we going?
Were
Were is a verb that serves as the past tense of the verb “be.” It rhymes with words like pure, her, and stir. Use “were” to refer to something that happened in the past. Here are a few examples:
• What were you wearing?
• Were you sleeping?
Key Takeaways
- Where is used to ask questions about places, while were is the past tense of “be.”
- Were is a verb, whereas where is used to inquire about a place or location.
- Where is a word used for questioning, while were refers to an action or state in the past.