Most new learners of the English language might use these words frequently in their conversations with others, but there are times when they use them incorrectly. Now how would you teach them the difference between these two terms. No doubt, the basis lies in grammar.
There are a few grammatical rules to be remembered while using these two words. This article will talk about some points that one needs to remember while using these words. You will learn how to use ‘was’ and ‘had’ in a sentence appropriately.
- Table Summarising the Difference between Was and Had
- The Difference between Was and Had – Meanings
- Examples of Was and Had
- Was and Had – Conclusion
Table Summarising the Difference between Was and Had
| Meaning | It is used as a past tense form of the verb ‘be’, and is used with singular subjects. It indicates a state of being in the past. | It is used as the past participle and the past tense form of the verb ‘have’, and is used with both singular and plural subjects. It indicates possession or ownership of something in the past. |
| Usage | It is used as a Verb. | It is used as a Verb. |
| Example | Bonny was sick on Monday. | They had visited the museum. |
This table shows that though ‘was’ and ‘had’ are past tense verbs they can’t be treated as synonymous and can not be used interchangeably. Students can download ‘was’ and ‘had’ worksheets from the BYJU’S website and practise for developing fluency in the correct usage of these terms.
The Difference between Was and Had – Meanings
‘Was’ is the past form of the verb ‘be’ and can only be used with singular subjects such as He/She/It/I or any other singular subjects, for example, ‘Robin was present in the movie hall.’ Here ‘was’ is used with a singular subject, i.e., Robin, and is used to denote a time in the past, whereas the word ‘had’ is used as a past participle and past form of the verb ‘have’ and can be used with both singular and plural subjects, for example, ‘They had gone shopping.’ Students should practise worksheets to better understand the difference between the concepts ‘was’ and ‘had’.
Examples of Was and Had
The following examples will help students understand the words ‘was’ and ‘had’:
Was – Mohan was going to the market yesterday. (verb -past tense)
Had – i) Sita had bought a cycle. (verb – past tense)
ii) My parents had gone on a tour. (verb – past participle)
Once students understand the difference between the words ‘was’ and ‘had’, they can easily apply them in the proper contexts.
Was and Had – Conclusion
Apart from these words, there are other phrases/words in the English Language which have always confused students owing to their somewhat similar nature. To avoid confusion while using these types of words, one must know the meanings of such words.
In conclusion, the words ‘was’ and ‘had’ are not synonymous and can’t be used interchangeably. This article points out the difference with the help of examples between ‘was’ and ‘had’ to make it easy for students to use them in sentences of their own. BYJU’S offers various articles on many such ‘Difference Between’ two words that students often get confused with.
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