英和辞典

were中A1

弱形wərワ～強形wə́ːrワ～

動詞 ⦣ be動詞 are の過去形.

❶～であった, ～だった

We [They] were little children then. We [They] are now over sixty.

♔基本We [They] were little children then. We [They] are now over sixty.

その頃ころ私たち[彼ら]は小さな子供だった. 今では私たち[彼ら]は60歳さいを過ぎた.

⦣ 主語＋were＋名詞[形容詞]. 主語には you, we, they や複数の名詞がなる.

＊会話＊

Were you busy last week?—Yes, we wére.

君たちは先週は忙いそがしかったの?—ええ, 忙しかったです.

⦣ Were＋主語＋～? で疑問文. were が文末に来る時は強く発音する.

We were not [weren't] rich, but we were happy.

We were not [話weren't] rich, but we were happy.

私たちは金持ちではなかったが幸福でした.

⦣ 否定文.

❷（～に）いた, あった

We were at home yesterday.

We were at home yesterday.

私たちは昨日は家にいました.

⦣ 主語＋were＋場所を示す副詞（句）.

You weren't at home, were you?

You weren't at home, were you?

君はうちにいませんでしたね.

⦣ ～, were you? は「～でしたね」と念を押おす用法.

There were two fires in Kanda last night.

There were two fires in Kanda last night.

昨夜神田で2件の火事があった.

❸（仮定法過去の文で）～であったら ⦣ 仮定法の文では主語が I や it など単数であっても were になるが, 口語では単数の場合は was もよく使われる. wish 動❸

助動詞

❶were doing で～していた; ～しようとしていた ⦣ 過去進行形.

We were studying in the library when the earthquake occurred.

We were studying in the library when the earthquake occurred.

地震じしんが起きた時私たちは図書室で勉強していた.

Were Mary and Jane playing tennis?—No, they weren't.

会話Were Mary and Jane playing tennis?—No, they weren't.

メアリーとジェーンはテニスをしていましたか.—いいえ, していませんでした.

Where were Mr. and Mrs. Smith going?

Where were Mr. and Mrs. Smith going?

スミス夫妻はどこへ行くところでしたか.

❷were＋過去分詞で～された ⦣ 過去の受け身.

The twins were loved by everyone.

The twins were loved by everyone.

その双子ふたごはみんなに愛された.

Many men were killed in the war.

Many men were killed in the war.

たくさんの男たちがその戦争で死んだ.

⦣ 事故・戦争などで「死ぬ」は受け身形で表現する.