Are vs. Were: Qual é a diferença?
are com o agora e were com o passado, sempre com o plural ou you.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'are' for current plural states and 'were' for past plural states or hypothetical 'what-if' dreams.
- Use 'are' for now with we/you/they: 'They are happy.'
- Use 'were' for then with we/you/they: 'They were happy.'
- Use 'were' for imaginary situations: 'If I were you...'
Overview
are e were é um dos marcos mais importantes para qualquer estudante brasileiro que deseja transitar do nível básico para o intermediário (B1). Embora o verbo to be seja frequentemente o primeiro tema ensinado em cursos de inglês, a confusão entre suas formas de presente e passado persiste por muito tempo. A diferença fundamental entre are e were reside na dimensão temporal: enquanto are é utilizado no presente, para indicar estados, fatos ou ações que ocorrem no agora, were é sua contraparte no passado, referindo-se a situações que já foram concluídas ou que estavam em andamento em um ponto anterior no tempo.ser ou estar: eu sou/estou, tu és/estás, ele é/está, nós somos/estamos, vós sois/estais, eles são/estão. No inglês, essa complexidade é reduzida drasticamente.am, is, are) e, no passado, apenas duas (was, were). No entanto, essa simplicidade esconde armadilhas, especialmente no que diz respeito à concordância com o sujeito e ao uso do pronome you. Compreender essa distinção não é apenas uma questão de gramática teórica; é a chave para você conseguir contar uma história sobre o que aconteceu no trabalho ontem ou explicar como as coisas estão funcionando na sua empresa hoje sem causar mal-entendidos.to be atua essencialmente de duas maneiras: como um verbo de ligação (copula) ou como um verbo auxiliar. As formas are e were desempenham esses papéis dependendo do tempo verbal que queremos expressar.The drinks are cold.The drinks were cold. Aqui, o verbo serve apenas como uma ponte entre o sujeito (the drinks) e o adjetivo (cold). No português, fazemos exatamente a mesma coisa, mas precisamos ajustar o verbo para o plural (estão ou estavam).are e were são fundamentais para construir os tempos contínuos (progressive tenses) e a voz passiva. Quando você diz que sua equipe está trabalhando em um novo projeto (My team are working...), o are ajuda o verbo principal (working) a indicar continuidade. Se a ação estava ocorrendo ontem quando o chefe ligou, usamos o were (They were working...).are e were são as formas plurais do verbo to be, mas com uma exceção vital: o pronome you. Diferente do português, onde diferenciamos você é (singular) de vocês são(plural), o inglês utiliza
you are e you were para ambos os casos.you era originalmente apenas plural. Para nós, soa estranho usar uma forma plural para falar com uma única pessoa, mas é uma regra absoluta que você precisa internalizar para soar natural.are no presente e were no passado.am | was |are | were |is | was |are | were |are | were |we, they) ou o camaleônico you, você usará are para o agora e were para o antes.- Presente com
are: We are at the office right now.(Nós estamos no escritório agora mesmo.)You are a great professional.(Você é um ótimo profissional.)The reports are on your desk.(Os relatórios estão na sua mesa.)
- Passado com
were: We were at the beach last weekend.(Nós estávamos na praia no último fim de semana.)You were very helpful in the meeting.(Você foi/foi muito prestativo na reunião.)The results were better than expected.(Os resultados foram melhores do que o esperado.)
estamos no escritório). No inglês, isso não existe! Você precisa dizer
We are. Omitir o sujeito é um dos erros mais comuns de brasileiros que estão traduzindo mentalmente.are para definir quem as pessoas são ou como as coisas estão hoje. No trabalho, por exemplo: The developers are busy with the new update. Se estivermos falando sobre o estado deles na semana passada, mudamos para o passado: The developers were busy last week.she is. Se você está vendo uma foto antiga de uma viagem em grupo, they were in Bahia.Are e were são essenciais para dizer onde alguém ou algo se encontra.- Presente:
Are you at home?(Você está em casa?) - Passado:
Were you at the mall yesterday?(Você estava no shopping ontem?)
I am at the main entrance, where are you? vs. I was at the main entrance five minutes ago.- Present Continuous:
They are watching the game.(Eles estão assistindo ao jogo.) - Past Continuous:
They were watching the game when I arrived.(Eles estavam assistindo ao jogo quando eu cheguei.)
were aqui serve para dar um contexto de fundo para outra ação que aconteceu. É como se você estivesse contando uma fofoca ou um relato de um evento: A gente estava lá, conversando tranquilamente (We were talking), quando de repente....- Presente:
The emails are sent automatically.(Os e-mails são enviados automaticamente.) - Passado:
The emails were sent this morning.(Os e-mails foram enviados esta manhã.)
se eu fosse), o inglês utiliza were para todas as pessoas, inclusive I, he e she.If I was you, a forma gramaticalmente correta e mais elegante é: If I were you, I would take that job.I wish it were Friday.(Quem dera fosse sexta-feira.)He acts as if he were the owner of the company.(Ele age como se fosse o dono da empresa.)
fosse), enquanto o inglês apenas pega emprestado a forma plural do passado.People ispovo ou gente é singular. Dizemos a gente é ou o povo está. No inglês, people é o plural de person. Portanto, é um erro grave dizer The people is happy. O correto é sempre The people are happy ou The people were happy.- Por que acontece? Interferência direta do português
O pessoal está.... - Como fixar: Lembre-se que
people=they. Se éthey, tem que serare/were.
You was no singularvocê era ou você estava (singular), o aluno tende a usar was (que é a forma singular do passado em inglês).- Erro:
You was my best friend. - Correto:
You were my best friend. - Dica: Imagine que
yousempre tem umsinvisível de plural no final para fins de gramática.Younunca anda comisouwas.
Eram dez horas. No inglês, o verbo were não pode ficar sozinho no início.- Erro:
Were ten o'clock. - Correto:
It was ten o'clock.(Aqui usamoswasporqueité singular, mas o erro de omissão acontece com plurais também:Are many people hereem vez deThere are many people here).
are e were com seus primos próximos. A maior confusão geralmente acontece entre o presente e o passado, e entre o singular e o plural.The car is fast. | The car was fast. |The cars are fast. | The cars were fast. |You are fast. | You were fast. |We are fast. | We were fast. |There are vs. There wereter com sentido de existir (Tem muita gente na festa). Em inglês, usamos
there to be.There are many people at the party.(Tem/Há muitas pessoas na festa agora.)There were many people at the party.(Tinha/Havia muitas pessoas na festa ontem.)
have para isso! Se você quer dizer que tinham muitos problemas no projeto, o correto é
There were many problems, e não Had many problems.was com you em situações informais?You were é a única forma aceita na norma culta.were para falar de uma pessoa só (I, He, She)?was (She was at home). Se está imaginando algo que não é verdade, usa were (If she were at home, she would answer the door).you were se refere a uma pessoa ou a várias?You were late, é singular.You were late, é plural. Algumas regiões usam gírias como you guys ou y'all para marcar o plural, mas o verbo were continua o mesmo.Are e were podem ser usados com it?It é sempre singular, então ele faz par com is e was. A única exceção é se o it fizer parte de uma estrutura comparativa plural oculta, mas isso é muito avançado. Para o seu nível, mantenha It is e It was.are e were é como ajustar o foco de uma câmera: de repente, o tempo das suas histórias fica nítido para quem ouve. Pratique pensando no seu dia a dia — o que are as coisas agora e o que elas were ontem. Sacou? Agora é só aplicar!Conjugation of 'To Be' (Plural & You)
| Subject | Present (Are) | Past (Were) | Subjunctive (Were) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
We
|
are
|
were
|
were
|
|
You (Singular)
|
are
|
were
|
were
|
|
You (Plural)
|
are
|
were
|
were
|
|
They
|
are
|
were
|
were
|
|
I
|
am
|
was
|
were (If I were...)
|
|
He/She/It
|
is
|
was
|
were (If it were...)
|
Contractions
| Full Form | Contraction | Negative Form | Negative Contraction |
|---|---|---|---|
|
We are
|
We're
|
We are not
|
We aren't / We're not
|
|
You are
|
You're
|
You are not
|
You aren't / You're not
|
|
They are
|
They're
|
They are not
|
They aren't / They're not
|
|
We were
|
n/a
|
We were not
|
We weren't
|
|
They were
|
n/a
|
They were not
|
They weren't
|
Meanings
Forms of the verb 'to be' used to describe states, identities, or locations for plural subjects and the singular 'you'.
Present State
Describing a current condition or identity for 'we', 'you', or 'they'.
“You are very kind.”
“They are the winners.”
Past State
Describing a completed condition or identity in the past.
“We were late yesterday.”
“You were my best friend in school.”
Hypothetical (Subjunctive)
Used to express wishes, dreams, or conditions that are not true.
“If I were a millionaire, I'd buy a boat.”
“I wish they were here.”
Continuous Auxiliary
Helping verbs for the Present Continuous and Past Continuous tenses.
“They are dancing.”
“They were dancing when I arrived.”
Reference Table
| Sujeito | Tempo | Forma Verbal | Exemplo |
|---|---|---|---|
|
We
|
Present
|
are
|
We are ready.
|
|
You (singular/plural)
|
Present
|
are
|
You are kind.
|
|
They
|
Present
|
are
|
They are working.
|
|
The students
|
Present
|
are
|
The students are here.
|
|
We
|
Past
|
were
|
We were excited.
|
|
You (singular/plural)
|
Past
|
were
|
You were busy.
|
|
They
|
Past
|
were
|
They were laughing.
|
|
If I (hypothetical)
|
Past/Subjunctive
|
were
|
If I were taller...
|
Espectro de formalidade
Are you prepared to proceed? (Group setting)
Are you ready? (Group setting)
You guys ready? (Group setting)
Y'all ready? (Group setting)
Are vs. Were: Fluxo de Conceitos
Tempo Presente
- are used for plural subjects and 'you'
Tempo Passado
- were used for plural subjects and 'you'
Caso Especial
- If I were... subjunctive for hypotheticals
Are vs. Were: Comparação Rápida
Fluxograma: Escolhendo 'Are' ou 'Were'
O sujeito é plural ou 'you'?
A situação está acontecendo agora?
A situação é no passado?
É uma hipótese com 'if' ou um desejo?
Grade de Contextos de Uso
Presente (Are)
- • Local atual: 'They are at the cafe.'
- • Ação contínua: 'We are studying.'
- • Verdade geral: 'You are smart.'
Passado (Were)
- • Local passado: 'They were at the party.'
- • Ação passada: 'We were talking.'
- • Estado passado: 'You were tired.'
Especial (Were)
- • Hipotético: 'If I were a bird...'
- • Desejos: 'I wish you were here.'
Exemplos por nível
You are my friend.
You are my friend.
They are in the kitchen.
They are in the kitchen.
We were at school yesterday.
We were at school yesterday.
Were you tired last night?
Were you tired last night?
They aren't coming to the party.
They are not coming to the party.
We weren't ready for the test.
We were not ready for the test.
Are the keys on the table?
Are the keys on the table?
You were very helpful today.
You were very helpful today.
If I were you, I would call him.
If I were you, I would call him.
We are flying to Paris tomorrow.
We are flying to Paris tomorrow.
They were being very loud during the movie.
They were being very loud during the movie.
I wish you were here with me.
I wish you were here with me.
The results are expected to be good.
The results are expected to be good.
If they were to win, it would be a miracle.
If they were to win, it would be a miracle.
You were supposed to be here at eight.
You were supposed to be here at eight.
Are you being served, sir?
Are you being served, sir?
Were it not for the rain, we would be hiking.
Were it not for the rain, we would be hiking.
They are not to be disturbed under any circumstances.
They are not to be disturbed under any circumstances.
I was wondering if you were planning to join us.
I was wondering if you were planning to join us.
The ruins were once a grand palace.
The ruins were once a grand palace.
Lest they were discovered, they moved in silence.
Lest they were discovered, they moved in silence.
The nuances of the law are such that few understand them.
The nuances of the law are such that few understand them.
If he were but a little more patient, he would succeed.
If he were but a little more patient, he would succeed.
Such are the trials of modern life.
Such are the trials of modern life.
Fácil de confundir
Learners often use 'was' for plural subjects or 'were' for singular ones.
Mixing up singular and plural in the present tense.
Both are heard, but only one is formally correct for hypotheticals.
Erros comuns
We was happy.
We were happy.
You is my friend.
You are my friend.
They are at home yesterday.
They were at home yesterday.
Are you was there?
Were you there?
The books is on the table.
The books are on the table.
We weren't go to the park.
We didn't go to the park.
Was you at the meeting?
Were you at the meeting?
If I was you, I'd go.
If I were you, I'd go.
I wish it was Friday.
I wish it were Friday.
They are married for ten years.
They have been married for ten years.
If it was to rain, we'd stay.
If it were to rain, we'd stay.
Padrões de frases
They are ___ right now.
We were ___ when the phone rang.
If you were ___, what would you do?
The keys are not ___, they were ___.
Real World Usage
We're here! Where are you?
In my last role, we were responsible for the budget.
We were so young in this photo! Time flies.
Are the rooms ready yet?
The fries are cold, but they were hot when I ordered.
The participants were divided into two groups.
Pense em uma Máquina do Tempo
We are here now.
Não esqueça do 'You'
You were right about that!
Dê uma de Detetive
They are busy currently.
O 'Were' Hipotético
Poder do Plural
The dogs were barking loudly.
Smart Tips
Always use 'If I were you' instead of 'If I was you'. It sounds much more professional.
Ignore the number! 'You' is a grammatical plural in English, so it always takes 'are' and 'were'.
Look for time markers like 'yesterday', 'now', or 'next week' to decide between 'are' and 'were'.
If you wish for something that isn't true right now, use 'were'.
Pronúncia
Weak form of 'Are'
In fast speech, 'are' is often reduced to a schwa sound /ə/.
Weak form of 'Were'
In fast speech, 'were' is often reduced to /wə/.
Question Inversion
Are you ↗ ready?
Rising intonation at the end of 'are/were' questions.
Memorize
Mnemônico
ARE is for the stars (present/bright), WERE is for the year (past/gone).
Associação visual
Imagine a bright sun labeled 'ARE' shining on a group of people today. Then imagine a dusty old photo album labeled 'WERE' showing the same people years ago.
Rhyme
When it's now, 'are' is the way. When it's then, 'were' saves the day.
Story
A king says, 'We are powerful today!' but his ghost says, 'We were powerful once.' Then a dreamer says, 'If I were a king, I would be happy.'
Word Web
Desafio
Write three sentences: one about where you are now, one about where you were on your last birthday, and one starting with 'If I were a bird...'
Notas culturais
In AAVE, 'be' can be used as an invariant verb for habitual actions (e.g., 'They be working'), which is different from the standard 'They are working'.
The use of 'y'all are' is standard for the plural 'you'.
Some dialects use 'was' for all subjects in the past ('We was', 'They was'). This is considered non-standard but is very common in certain regions.
The verb 'to be' is highly irregular because it comes from three different Old English roots: 'am/is', 'be', and 'was/were'.
Iniciadores de conversa
Where are you right now, and where were you two hours ago?
If you were the president of your country, what is the first thing you would change?
What are your favorite hobbies, and were they the same when you were a child?
Think about your last vacation. Were the people friendly? Was the weather good?
Temas para diário
Erros comuns
Test Yourself
The students ____ excited for the field trip tomorrow.
Find and fix the mistake:
Last year, the prices are much lower for flights.
Escolha a frase correta:
Traduza para o inglês: 'Estão muito ocupados neste momento.'
Answer starts with: ["T...
Score: /4
Exercicios praticos
8 exercisesThey ___ very busy today.
Last night, we ___ at the cinema.
Find and fix the mistake:
If I was you, I would buy the red car.
You are late for the meeting.
A: Where ___ the kids? B: They ___ in the garden a minute ago.
Identify the hypothetical sentence.
1. He, 2. They, 3. You
You should use 'was' with 'you' if you are only talking to one person.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesWe ____ going to the concert next week.
You ____ incredibly tired after your overnight shift.
The children was playing outside all afternoon yesterday.
If she was here, she would help us with the presentation.
Escolha a frase correta:
Escolha a frase correta:
Traduza para o inglês: 'Vocês estavam na biblioteca ontem.'
Traduza para o inglês: 'Si eu fosse rico, compraria um iate.'
Organize as palavras para formar a frase:
Organize as palavras para formar a frase:
Combine os sujeitos com a forma correta:
Combine os sujeitos com a forma correta:
Score: /12
Perguntas frequentes (8)
This is the 'subjunctive mood', used for things that aren't true. While `If I was` is common in casual talk, `If I were` is the grammatically correct form for hypotheticals.
Yes, but only in hypothetical situations like `I wish she were here` or `If he were taller`. In the normal past tense, use `was`.
In standard English, no. It is always `You were`. You might hear `You was` in some dialects or songs, but avoid it in exams or work.
The contraction is `weren't`. It is very common in speaking and informal writing.
Move `are` to the front of the sentence: `Are they coming?` instead of `They are coming.`
No, `it` is singular and uses `is` (present) or `was` (past). The only exception is the subjunctive: `If it were Sunday, I'd be in bed.`
`They're` is the contraction for `they are`. `There` refers to a place. They sound the same but have different meanings.
Use `are` + `-ing` for fixed plans: `We are meeting at 5 PM.` This shows the plan is already decided.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
son / eran / fueron / estuvieran
English doesn't distinguish between 'being' (essence) and 'being' (location) with different verbs.
sont / étaient
French has more complex conjugation for 'you' (tu es vs vous êtes).
sind / waren
German uses 'waren' for all plural subjects, just like English.
desu / deshita
No plural agreement in Japanese.
kana (past) / zero copula (present)
The present tense 'are' is often invisible in Arabic sentences.
shì (是)
No conjugation for tense or number.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Vídeos relacionados
Related Grammar Rules
Dialeto vs. Língua: Qual é a diferença?
### Overview Definir a fronteira exata entre uma `language` (língua/idioma) e um `dialect` (dialeto) é um dos desafios...
Nowadays vs. Now-a-days: Qual é a diferença?
### Overview A língua inglesa, assim como o nosso português brasileiro, é um organismo vivo que está em constante evolu...
Let them vs. Let they: Qual é a diferença?
### Overview Olha só, vamos falar sobre um erro que acontece muito com quem está aprendendo inglês: a confusão entre `l...
Quite vs. Quiet: Qual é a diferença?
### Overview No dia a dia de quem estuda inglês, é muito comum nos depararmos com palavras que parecem gêmeas, mas que...
Said vs. Told: Qual é a diferença?
### Overview Dominar a diferença entre `said` e `told` é um dos grandes marcos para quem está no nível intermediário (B...
