Difference between revisions of "Where - were"
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| − | '''Where''' is a conjunction, relative pronoun, or an interrogative depending on its grammatical context. Its general meaning is of place ~ 'in | + | These [[homophone]]s have given trouble to generations of British schoolchildren south of the border. This is because the English raerrely distinguish between [[W - Wh|'''w''' and '''wh''']]. |
| + | *'''Where''' is a conjunction, relative pronoun, or an interrogative depending on its grammatical context. Its general meaning is of place ~ 'in '''wh'''ich place'. It is spelled with a '''w''' in front of the word for 'in this place, '''here'''. | ||
| + | *'''Were''' is the [[plural]] form of the [[past tense]] of the [[verb]] 'to be.' It is spelled like the singular form, '''w'''as - without an '-h-'. | ||
| − | + | It is correct, and makes sense, to spell the common question as: ''Where were you?''. It makes no sense at all to spell it: ''<strike>Were where</strike> you?'', although in Hull and other local accents the two syllables sound exactly the same | |
| − | + | ||
| − | It is correct, and makes sense, to spell the common question as: ''Where were you?'' | + | |
(If you are interested in language, you may care to observe that the changes in the consonants change the pronunciation of the vowels that follow them.) | (If you are interested in language, you may care to observe that the changes in the consonants change the pronunciation of the vowels that follow them.) | ||
| − | + | [[category:homophones]][[category:spelling common errors]] | |
| − | [[category:homophones]] | + | |
Revision as of 08:43, 28 June 2007
These homophones have given trouble to generations of British schoolchildren south of the border. This is because the English raerrely distinguish between w and wh.
- Where is a conjunction, relative pronoun, or an interrogative depending on its grammatical context. Its general meaning is of place ~ 'in which place'. It is spelled with a w in front of the word for 'in this place, here.
- Were is the plural form of the past tense of the verb 'to be.' It is spelled like the singular form, was - without an '-h-'.
It is correct, and makes sense, to spell the common question as: Where were you?. It makes no sense at all to spell it: Were where you?, although in Hull and other local accents the two syllables sound exactly the same
(If you are interested in language, you may care to observe that the changes in the consonants change the pronunciation of the vowels that follow them.)
