Where vs. Were — Differences & Use
Differences between where and were
The differences between where and were are the pronunciation, spelling, and meaning. One is always a verb; one is an adverb and part-time subordinating conjunction. They are two different words and have different meanings.
Where definition
Where can be an adverb or, informally, a subordinating conjunction linking dependent and independent clauses.
As an adverb that usually appears after a place or situation. It means in, at, or to which, as with a sentence like “I lived in New York City, where I worked for several years.”
Where in a sentence
Here are sentences using the word "where" to show in, at, or to which:
“She studied in London, where she became a master art restorer.”
“To which address is the envelope going? Where are you sending it?”
“I live at the intersection of Smith and Vine Streets. I live where the two roads cross.”
Where can also be used as a subordinating conjunction as with:
“We performed an experiment where we measured buoyancy.”
Here the meaning of where is “in which.”
Where as a conjunction can also mean “in the place that,” or “in situations that,” as with these sentences:
“Where the rubber meets the road, we separate the adults from the children.”
“Where the desert offers no visible water, animals inventively dig.”
“We hid our treasure where no other pirates could find it.”
Where is pronounced to rhyme with bear, hair, or there.
Were definition
Were is a verb form of to be, and it is three different verb forms:
second-person singular past tense – “You were in line first.”
plural past tense – “They were miners.”
past subjunctive tense – “If I were in his shoes, I would have done the same thing.”
Were is pronounced to rhyme with burr and stir.
Let's review the word "were" in its three different verb forms and learn how to use "were" in sentence.
Were in a sentence
The second-person singular past tense refers to using were for the singular second-person pronoun you, or when referring to another person (only one) by name. Here are sample conversation using the past tense of the verb were:
You: “Bettine, were you in the post office yesterday?”
Bettine: “Yes. I was mailing a box of llama chow. Why, were you there too?”
You: “You were in line ahead of me. Were you aware I was there or was I where you could not see me?”
Bettine: “I was not aware. Were you where the line turned around the pillar?”
The plural past tense of to be is were. This plural form is used for all plural noun forms, such as we and they.
You: “Together, we were in the post office an hour.”
Bettine: “My coworkers were wondering where I was.”
You: “The postal workers were sorting and canceling as fast as they could.”
Bettine: “They really were, but I was still late getting back, where my boss was upset.
The past subjunctive tense is reserved for any hypothetical or unreal event in the past, present, or future. If it is unlikely to happen or cannot happen at all, use the past subjunctive tense:
Bettine: “Were I to suddenly sprout wings, I would not be able to get back to the office in time.”
You: “It was as if time were moving backward, standing in that line.”
Bettine: “If I were a less patient person, I would throw a loud tantrum.”
You: “Suppose we were to bring sandwiches and have a picnic in the line next time!”
Bettine: “It would be as if we were completely free for the afternoon.”
When to use where or were
Now that we see that where is an adverb or sometimes a subordinating conjunction, and were is always a verb, we should have no trouble sorting out when to use which word.
We always use were when we need a verb or a helping verb:
We were happy children.
They were playing in the snow.
You were experimenting with buoyancy.
You and I were floating pennies on saltwater.
Were I able to turn back time, I would go back to my eighth birthday.
If I were you, I would review my notes for that test.
We use where to mean location, as with at, in, or to which:
Where would you like the llama sent?
Where did you put the llama’s leash?
The llama goes into the paddock, where she eats alfalfa.
The actor moved to Los Angeles, where he starred in a llama drama.
Antarctica is a land where llamas are ill-suited for travel.
We also use where as a conjunction:
This is the time in the movie where the hero rides a llama.
Where I go, no llama should follow.
Where the hard rains fall, there you will find llamas.
Where vs. were examples
See how well you can separate where and were by completing these example sentences.
Put where or were in the correct blanks in these sentences:
“There, _______ the river bends to the north, is the best place to cross with the llamas.”
“_______ I a honey badger, I could live a life of ease.”
“_______ I see hard work and long days ahead, you see the carefree life of a llama farmer.”
“When _______ you going to tell us about the llama farm?”
“It was as though she _______ going to jump over that fence and escape.”
If we were you, we would try before we looked at the answers.
“There, where the river bends to the north, is the best place to cross with the llamas.”
“Were I a honey badger, I could live a life of ease.”
“Where I see hard work and long days ahead, you see the carefree life of a llama farmer.”
“When were you going to tell us about the llama farm?”
“It was as though she were going to jump over that fence and escape.”
Were vs. we're
The word we're is another English word that gets confused with were. It is pronounced the same way and looks like the word were with an apostrophe.
We're is the conjunction of the pronoun we and the plural present tense form of the verb to be, are.