wast

IPA/wɒst/
IPA/wʌst/

wast — verb

  • wastpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • wasts3rd person singular
  • wasting-ing form
  • wastedpast simple

1. an old word that replaces 'were' when the subject is 'thou', used in older Engli

1.動詞
釋義

an old word that replaces 'were' when the subject is 'thou', used in older English to mean 'you were' when talking to one person.

例句

Thou wast the finest archer in the whole kingdom during the last war.

thou + wast + noun phrase complement

The queen found thee when thou wast hiding behind the old wall near the chapel.

thou + wast + verb-ing (past progressive)

同義詞
  • were

    the modern equivalent; 'you were' replaces 'thou wast' in present-day English

文法句型

thou + wast + complement/verb-ing

thou + wast + not

wast + thou + ...? (inversion in questions)

用法筆記

Fully archaic — in modern English, 'you were' is used regardless of the number of people addressed. The pronoun 'thou' always accompanies this verb form; omitting it or using 'you' is ungrammatical. Questions invert word order: 'Wast thou...?', not 'Thou wast...?'.

常見錯誤

❌You wast at the market.
✅Thou wast at the market.
💡'wast' can only be used with 'thou', not with 'you'.
❌If thou wast the king, thou wouldst forgive him.
✅If thou wert the king, thou wouldst forgive him.
💡'wast' is the indicative form for real past events; 'wert' is the subjunctive form used in hypothetical or unreal conditions (if-clauses).