TYPICAL ERROR Were where you going on your bike?
CORRECTION Where were you going on your bike?
EXPLANATION If you are in the habit of confusing were (a verb that rhymes with sir) and where (which rhymes with hair), then concentrate on just one of the two words and try to fix its correct use in your mind. For example, it helps to actually put the h sound in where, so practise saying where as if you are saying hair with w in front of it. You will realise that where actually sounds quite different from were. Where is also the same word as in somewhere, everywhere, nowhere.
Study the use of where in these examples.
- Where are Tom and Hannah? They could be anywhere!
- This is where they are hoping to build a house.
- Does anyone know where the car key is?
- Where were you when the fire engines arrived?
Insert where or were in these sentences as appropriate.