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We're, were or where?
Homonyms (words that sound
alike but which have different meanings) cause much misunderstanding amongst
those learning the language. They should be familiar to native speakers, but
seem to confuse a lot of folk. Here are some suggestions to help in remembering
the correct usage for each.
'We're' is a contraction
of the phrase 'We are.' If the phrase can be used in place of the word, then
this is the one you need.
'We're (we are) all going
to march on Parliament to protest about the way MPs have been making fraudulent
claims for living expenses.'
'Were' is the past tense
of 'are' and is used to describe something that has happened in the past.
'We were going to the
Houses of Parliament to protest, but we are now going to the pub instead.'
'Where' is a locational
term, in common with 'here' and 'there'. It can be used in a question about the
location of something or it can identify the placing of a person or object.
'The Houses of Parliament
are where British MPs sit to make laws intended to keep them in power and positions
of privilege.'
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