Were, We’re or Where: Which Is Correct?
Were is the past of are. We’re is we are. Where asks about place.
They were late. We’re ready. Where is it?
The test that settles it
Expand the apostrophe to we are. If that reads, the answer is we’re. If not, ask whether the sentence is about a past state or about a place.
“___ going to be late” → we are going, so we’re.
“___ did you put it” → a place, so where.
Where contains here, and both are places. We’re has the apostrophe standing in for the missing a. Were is the plain past tense with nothing added.
Were: the past of are
Used with you, we and they, and in the subjunctive for hypotheticals: if I were you. It never takes an apostrophe.
They were at the door.
You were right all along.
If I were you, I would wait.
Is it a past state, or a hypothetical? Then were.
We’re: we are
A contraction, and the only one of the three with an apostrophe. It can always be expanded back to we are, and if it cannot, it is the wrong word.
We’re almost finished.
I think we’re lost.
We’re the ones who asked.
Does we are fit? Then we’re.
Where: in or to what place
An adverb and conjunction of place, in questions and in clauses that attach to a location.
Where are my keys?
the town where she grew up
I will go where you go.
Is a place involved? Then where.
Side by side
| Were | We’re | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Past of are | We are | A place |
| Verb | Contraction | Adverb or conjunction |
| No apostrophe | Apostrophe | Contains here |
| They were here | We’re here | Where is it |
The exceptions
If I were you is the subjunctive, used for things contrary to fact. If I was late, I apologise is different — that one really might have happened, so the ordinary past is right. The test is whether the situation is imaginary.
Wear is what you do with clothes; ware means goods, as in hardware and kitchenware. Neither is interchangeable with any of the three above, but all five share a sound and get mixed up in fast typing.
Where people get it wrong
| Incorrect | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Were going to be late. | We’re going to be late. | We are. |
| Were sorry for the delay. | We’re sorry for the delay. | The apostrophe is doing real work. |
| We’re did you find it? | Where did you find it? | A place. |
| They where waiting outside. | They were waiting outside. | Past tense. |
Practice — choose the right word, then check yourself.
- ___ leaving at six.
- ___ did I leave my phone?
- They ___ nowhere to be seen.
- If I ___ you, I would say nothing.
- This is the café ___ we met.
Show the answers
1. We’re 2. Where 3. were 4. were 5. where
Frequently asked
Which is the most common slip?
Were typed for we’re, because the apostrophe is easy to drop and spellcheck accepts both.
Is if I was always wrong?
No. It is right when the situation is real and merely past.
More words people confuse
