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✍️ Standard English Verbs

"We was" or "we were"? "I done it" or "I did it"? The way people speak at home is real, rule-following language — nothing wrong with it. But schools, tests, and formal writing expect one particular se

6
lessons
~15 min
to learn
🗣️ Language
subject
Adults
level
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What you’ll learn

  1. The Words That Do the WorkIdentify verbs and understand that they change form for time and for who is acting.Verbs are the action or being words that power a sentence, and they shift shape depending on tense and subject. Most changes come naturally by ear, but a few irregular verbs need to be learned on purpose.
  2. Two Ways of TalkingUnderstand that home dialects are legitimate, rule-governed language and that Standard English is a context-specific expectation.Every way of speaking, including home dialects, is systematic and worthy of respect according to linguists. Standard English is not superior language but the shared version expected in school, tests, and formal work — like a specific outfit for a specific place.
  3. Was and WereUse the Standard English past forms of 'to be': was with I/he/she/it, were with you/we/they.The verb 'to be' has two past forms in Standard English. Was pairs with I, he, she, and it; were pairs with you, we, and they. In formal writing, everyday forms like 'we was' are swapped for 'we were'.
  4. Did and DoneApply the rule that 'did' stands alone while 'done' requires a helper verb (have/has/had).For the verb 'do', the Standard past 'did' can stand by itself, but the participle 'done' always needs a helper word in front. So Standard English uses 'I did it' or 'I have done it', never 'I done it'.
  5. Saw and SeenApply the same helper rule to 'saw' and 'seen', and match everyday forms to their Standard partners.The verb 'see' follows the same pattern as 'do': 'saw' stands alone, while 'seen' needs a helper such as have or has. Recognising this lets learners swap everyday forms like 'I seen' for the Standard 'I saw' when writing formally.
  6. Choosing the Right Words for the PlaceProofread one's own writing for these verb forms and value the ability to switch between dialects.Careful writers proofread specifically for was/were and done/seen, checking agreement and helpers. Being able to move between home English and Standard English is a valuable skill, not a correction of who a person is.

Questions this course answers

What is a verb?

A verb is the action or being word — the engine of the sentence. Verbs change shape depending on when something happens and who does it.

According to language scientists, how does the way people speak at home compare to Standard English?

Linguists agree every way of speaking is systematic and rule-governed. Standard English isn't more correct as language — it's the version formal places expect.

Which sentence uses the Standard English form correctly?

In Standard English, 'we', 'you', and 'they' take 'were'. Only 'I', 'he', 'she', and 'it' take 'was'.

Which sentence is Standard English?

'Done' must have a helper word (have/has/had) in front. 'Did' stands alone. So 'I have done' or 'I did' are correct — never 'I done'.

You want to use 'did' or 'done'. There is NO helper word like have or has in the sentence. Which do you choose?

With no helper word present, 'did' is the Standard choice because it stands alone. 'Done' would need a have/has/had in front.

Which sentence should be swapped before formal writing?

'Seen' needs a helper. 'I seen' has none, so swap it to 'I saw the parade' (or 'I have seen the parade') for Standard English.

Grounded in trusted sources

  • Linguistic Society of America — Resolution on the Oakland Ebonics issue (all dialects are systematic and rule-governed)
  • American Speech-Language-Hearing Association — Social Dialects position statement
  • British Council LearnEnglish — Past simple and irregular verbs
  • Yale Grammatical Diversity Project — English in North America (FAQ)

Every Wunder lesson is built from real, reputable sources — never invented.

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