Key Explanation

“You was” is grammatically incorrect because the subject “you” always pairs with the plural verb “were” in standard English, regardless of whether “you” refers to one person or multiple people. The correct form is “you were.”

Structured Breakdown

1. Why “You Was” is Incorrect

• Subject-Verb Agreement: In English, the verb must match the subject in number (singular or plural).
  • “Was” is the singular past tense form of “to be” used with “I,” “he,” “she,” or “it.”
  • “Were” is the plural past tense form of “to be” used with “we,” “they,” and always “you” (whether singular or plural).
  • Example:
    • Correct: “You were at the store.”
    • Incorrect: “You was at the store.”

2. Special Case for “You”

“You” is a unique pronoun because it uses the same verb form regardless of whether it’s singular (talking to one person) or plural (talking to a group). Historically, “thou” was used for singular, and “you” was for plural, but in modern English, “you” replaced “thou.” The plural verb form “were” remained attached to “you.”

3. Examples of Correct Usage

• Singular “you”:
  • “You were late to the meeting.”
• Plural “you”:
  • “You were all very kind yesterday.”

Common Mistake and How to Avoid It

❌ Mistake: “You was tired after the trip.”
✅ Correct: “You were tired after the trip.”

Learning Tip: Always remember, “you” is special and goes with “were,” not “was.”

Practice Exercises

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb:

1. You ______ excited to see the fireworks last night.
2. Were you sure that ______ the right decision?
3. You ______ busy all day yesterday, weren’t you?

Answers:

1. You were excited to see the fireworks last night.
2. Were you sure that was the right decision?
3. You were busy all day yesterday, weren’t you?