We’re vs We are: How to choose the correct word?
“ We’re ” is a common contraction for “ we are “, but sometimes for “we were.” The apostrophe replaces the omitted letter ‘a’ in “we are” and “we” in “we were.”
If you wish to use the first-person plural form “we” with the irregular “be” verb “are,” use “we’re.”
However, “we are” is most commonly used in formal writing, whereas “we’re” is preferred for informal writing. Contractions are a sort of informal language used to communicate more personally or amicably.
We’re and were: Understand the Difference & Usage
Talk about everything that is occurring right now or in the future by using the pronoun “we’re.” However, when discussing previous events, use the tense “were.” To understand the difference, try replacing the word you’ve written with “we are.” If the meaning gets distorted, know that you need to omit the apostrophe.
How to use “we’re.”
“We’re” is a contraction made from the two words we and are .
Example: We’re going on a vacation tomorrow.
The phrase “We are going on a vacation tomorrow” in the above sentence is grammatically accurate in English.
How to use “were.”
“ Were ” is the plural past tense of the verb “ are Additionally, it is the subjunctive, second-person singular past, and plural past of the. to be ” verb. The verb to be is one of the most flexible in the English language, but it’s also one of the most difficult to grasp. The following situations allow you to use “were” in the past tense.
Case 1: First-person plural of “be” verb.
Example: We were exhausted after the journey.
Case 2: Second-person singular and plural of “be” verb.
Example: You were exhausted after the journey.
Case 3: “Be” in the third person plural (They “were” busy last week.)
Example: They were exhausted after the journey.
Case 4: Subjunctive of “be” verb for all person.
Example: If I were you, I would not have trusted her anymore.
To Wrap Up
Due to the widespread usage of the words “we’re” and “we are,” there are numerous misunderstandings and ambiguous statements on the internet.
The difference between the two can seem subtle, but there is a big difference. This article gives an overview of we re vs we are to help you learn the usage of these words in the English language .
