were
だった
解説 Definition
be動詞の過去形で、過去の状態や存在を表す。主語がyouまたは複数のときに使う。
The past-tense form of be normally used with you and plural subjects to express a past state, identity, location, or existence. It is also used with subjects of any number in certain hypothetical or contrary-to-fact constructions.
覚え方のコツ Memory Tip
現在の are を過去にすると were になる、と覚えると定着しやすいです。we were、you were、they were のように、you または複数の主語と結び付けます。was が基本的に単数、were が複数という対比を押さえ、were busy、were happy、were at school などの形で練習しましょう。
Think of were as the past form of are: “We are busy” becomes “We were busy.” Fix it to the patterns you were, we were, they were, and the children were. Compare was, normally used with I and singular third-person subjects, with were for you and plurals. Practice were busy, were happy, and were at school as complete chunks. Also notice the special hypothetical pattern “If I were you,” where formal standard English uses were even with a singular subject.
例文
We were busy all day.
私たちは一日中忙しかったです。
You were right about the weather.
天気についてはあなたの言うとおりでした。
The children were in the garden.
子どもたちは庭にいました。
were の類義語・関連語
were の語源・成り立ち Etymology
古英語の be 動詞の過去複数形 wǣron などに由来します。現代英語では are に対応する過去形で、you、we、theyや複数名詞とともに使います。また、仮定法では単数の主語にも用いられます。
Were developed from Old English plural past forms of the verb be, including wǣron. Be is exceptionally irregular because forms from different ancient verb stems merged during the history of English. Modern were is the indicative past form used with you and plural subjects. It also survives as a special form in hypothetical statements, including “if I were” and “I wish she were.”
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