was

Pronunciation

stressed

• (UK) enPR: wŏz, IPA ^(key): /wɒz/, SAMPA: /wQz/
• (US) enPR: wŭz, IPA ^(key): /wʌz/, SAMPA: /wVz/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

unstressed

• enPR: wəz
• IPA ^(key): /wəz/
• SAMPA: /w@z/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

  (in the phrase "I was there")

Verb

Plain form be

Present am, is, are

Past was, were

Past participle been

Present participle being

Negatives:

None, isn't, aren't

wasn't, weren't

None

None

Contractions:

'm, 's, 're

None

None

None

1. (auxiliary) (linking) A form of the verb be used to talk about yourself, or another person in the past.

   I was singing in the shower.

   Who was that girl you were talking to?