動詞 be:

1. have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun)
   同義詞：be
2. be identical to; be someone or something
   同義詞：be
3. occupy a certain position or area; be somewhere
   同義詞：be
4. have an existence, be extant
   同義詞：exist, be
5. happen, occur, take place
   同義詞：be
6. be identical or equivalent to
   同義詞：equal, be
7. form or compose
   同義詞：constitute, represent, make up, comprise, be
8. work in a specific place, with a specific subject, or in a specific function
   同義詞：be, follow
9. represent, as of a character on stage
   同義詞：embody, be, personify
10. spend or use time
    同義詞：be
11. have life, be alive
    同義詞：be, live
12. to remain unmolested, undisturbed, or uninterrupted -- used only in infinitive form
    同義詞：be
13. be priced at
    同義詞：cost, be

1. His words were followed by a pregnant pause.
   他說完話，接著是一段意味深長的停頓。
2. There were lots of buffaloes in the North America 100 years ago.
   100年前，北美有大量的野牛。
3. The children were whispering in the corner.
   孩子們正在角落里低聲耳語。
4. She is, as it were, the most beautiful girl I've ever seen.
   她可說是我見過的最漂亮的姑娘。
5. In the swamp we were beset by mosquitoes.
   我們在沼澤地受到蚊子的圍攻。
6. I wouldn't worry about it, if I were you.
   如果我是你，我就不會擔心。
7. He is, as it were, a walking dictionary.
   他可說是個活字典。
8. If I were in your shoes.
   如果我站在你的立場上。

were

v.（動詞）
Second person singular and plural and first and third person plural past indicative of be
be的第二人稱單數和復數以及第一和第三人稱復數過去陳述語氣詞
Past subjunctive of be See Usage Note at if ,wish
be的過去虛擬語氣詞參見 if,wish

來源：
Middle English were, weren
中古英語 were, weren
from Old English wôre, wôren, wôron * see wes-
源自 古英語 wôre, wôren, wôron *參見 wes-