What does "was" or "were" mean on WhatsApp - briefly?
On WhatsApp, the use of "was" or "were" typically indicates that a message has been deleted by the sender after it was sent but before it was read by the recipient. This feature is designed to give users more control over their conversations and maintain privacy.
What does "was" or "were" mean on WhatsApp - in detail?
The use of the words "was" and "were" on WhatsApp, as with any other form of communication, is determined by the grammatical rules of English language. These verbs are part of the past tense in English and indicate actions or states that occurred at some point in the past.
The verb "was" is used when the subject is singular. For example, if you are referring to one person or thing in the past, you would use "was." An example could be: "He was happy to receive the message." Here, the subject "he" is singular, so "was" is the correct verb to use.
On the other hand, the verb "were" is used when the subject is plural. If you are talking about more than one person or thing in the past, you would use "were." For instance: "They were excited about the news." In this case, the subject "they" is plural, hence "were" is appropriate.
It's important to note that these verbs also play a role in forming the subjunctive mood in English. The subjunctive is used to express various states such as wish, emotion, possibility, and action that have not yet occurred. An example using "was" could be: "If I were you, I would read the message carefully." Here, "were" is used because it refers to a hypothetical situation, even though the subject "I" is singular.
In summary, on WhatsApp or any other platform where English is used, "was" and "were" serve to indicate past actions or states, with "was" being used for singular subjects and "were" for plural ones. Understanding these grammatical rules helps in communicating more accurately and effectively.