was和were都是过去时。was是is和am的一般过去式，were是are的一般过去式。was与I/he/she/it连用，were与we/they/you连用。
was词汇分析用来表示某人或某物即主语本身属于某一群体或有某种性质（be的过去式）；在，存在等。
1.She was addicted to barbiturates.
她对巴比妥酸盐上瘾。
2.He was already late for his appointment.
他赴约已经迟到了。
3.That night was Richard’s apotheosis.
那夜，理查德登上了人生的顶峰。
4.I explained that I was an artist.
我解释说自己是个艺术家。
were词汇分析be的过去时复数和第二人称单数形式；有时代替was，用于条件从句、动词之后等。
1.His methods were not dissimilar to those used by Freud.
他的方法和弗洛伊德的方法没有什么不同。
2.We were given to understand that he was ill.
我们被告知他病了。
3.The doors were bolted on.
门是用螺栓锁上的。
4.All the necessary conditions were fulfilled.
所有必要的条件都满足了。
