were
"Were" is the past tense form of the verb "to be." It is used to describe a state of being or existence in the past. For example, in the sentence "They were happy," the word "were" indicates that the happiness occurred at a previous time. It is commonly used with plural subjects, such as people or animals.
In addition to its use with plural subjects, "were" can also appear in conditional statements. For instance, in the phrase "If I were you," it expresses a hypothetical situation. This usage is often seen in English grammar to convey unreal or imagined scenarios.