I was are

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was are" is not correct in written English.
It is a combination of two different verb forms that cannot be used together in this way. Example: "I was are confused about the instructions." (This is incorrect.)

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The people who were at Oxford at the same time as I was are the group of undergraduates that now control the means of communication in England.

The Guardian

But I wonder if these men and women, like I was, are at a loss about how to respond to these one-sided statements.

The Guardian - Opinion

The latest World Health Organization statistics show that more than 400,000 people died from malaria in 2016 and pregnant women and children (like I was) are the most susceptible.

Huffington Post

At first I was: "Are you kidding me?

The New York Times

But what if you like I was—are working backward and know the name of the holding but not the fund?

Vice

My husband, who's wonderful, …said to me, 'Well, I think this all went pretty well.' I was, 'Are you absolutely kidding me?'… Having other women to talk with might have been helpful…".

BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

I was being naïve.

Independent

I was being steered.

The New Yorker

I was being cautious.

The New Yorker

I was being bounced.

The New York Times

I was being discussed.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to yourself in the past tense, use "I was" followed by the appropriate words to complete your sentence. For instance, say "I was confused" instead of "I was are confused".

Common error

Avoid combining "was" (past tense) with "are" (present tense plural). The correct forms are "I was" for the past and "I am" for the present.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was are" is an incorrect conjugation of the verb "to be". Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is grammatically incorrect, as "was" is the past tense form for singular subjects and "are" is the present tense form for plural subjects. This construction violates basic English grammar rules.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

37%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I was are" is grammatically incorrect and should be avoided in both written and spoken English. Ludwig AI flags it as an error due to the improper conjugation of the verb "to be". The correct forms are "I was" for past tense singular and "I am" for present tense singular. Although there are a few instances of the phrase used, they are grammatically incorrect. It's essential to use correct verb tenses to ensure clarity and credibility in your communication. Remember to use "I was" to describe a past state and "I am" to describe your current state.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was

This is the correct past tense form using "was" for the first-person singular.

I am

This is the correct present tense form using "am" for the first-person singular.

We are

This alternative shifts the perspective to a plural subject, using "are" correctly.

They were

This alternative shifts the perspective to a plural subject in the past, using "were" correctly.

I used to be

This alternative conveys a past state or condition that is no longer true.

I have been

This alternative uses the present perfect tense to describe an action or state that started in the past and continues to the present.

As I was

This alternative sets a scene or describes the context when something happened.

When I was

This alternative indicates a period in the past when something occurred.

I might be

Expresses a possibility or uncertainty about a current state.

Perhaps I am

This is a more formal way of expressing uncertainty about one's current state.

FAQs

Why is "I was are" grammatically incorrect?

The phrase "I was are" is grammatically incorrect because "was" is the past tense form of the verb "to be" used with singular subjects like "I", while "are" is the present tense form used with plural subjects. Combining them results in an ungrammatical construction. You should use "I was" or "I am" depending on the intended tense.

When should I use "I was" instead of "I am"?

"I was" should be used when referring to a past state or action. For example, "I was happy" indicates that you were happy at some point in the past. In contrast, "I am" is used to describe your current state or action. For instance, "I am happy" means you are currently feeling happy.

What are some alternatives to using "I was are"?

Since "I was are" is incorrect, you should use either "I was" or "I am" depending on the context. If you intend to describe something in the past, use "I was". If you want to describe something in the present, use "I am". For example, instead of saying "I was are going to the store", say "I was going to the store" or "I am going to the store" if it is happening now.

Is there ever a situation where a phrase similar to "I was are" could be correct?

No, the phrase "I was are" itself is never grammatically correct in standard English. There are no situations where it could be used correctly. Always use either "I was" or "I am" depending on whether you're referring to the past or the present.