Had vs. Was — What's the Difference?
Edited by Tayyaba Rehman — By Fiza Rafique — Updated on September 21, 2023
"Had" is a past tense and past participle form of "have," used to describe possession, experience, or necessity. "Was" is the past tense of "be," used to denote states of being or existence. They serve different grammatical functions in a sentence.
Difference Between Had and Was
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Key Differences
"Had" is commonly used to express possession, necessity, or past actions linked to the present. For instance, "She had a car" indicates past possession of a car. On the other hand, "was" serves to describe a past state or condition, as in "She was happy."
While "had" can be auxiliary or main, "was" usually acts as a linking verb, connecting the subject to an adjective, noun, or prepositional phrase.
"Had" can also function in perfect tenses, such as "She had worked," whereas "was" cannot form perfect tenses.
Finally, "had" is often accompanied by an object or followed by another verb, while "was" generally follows the subject and precedes a predicate.
Comparison Chart
Tense
Past tense of "have"
Past tense of "be"
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Usage
Shows possession, relationships
Describes states, conditions
Function
Main verb, auxiliary
Main verb, auxiliary
Perfect Tenses
Forms past perfect tenses
Does not form perfect tenses
Negation
"Had not" or "hadn't"
"Was not" or "wasn't"
Compare with Definitions
Had
Past tense of "have."
She had breakfast.
Was
Auxiliary verb in past continuous tense.
It was raining.
Had
Indicates possession.
He had a car.
Was
First-person singular past tense of "be."
I was happy.
Had
Forms past perfect tense.
They had left.
Was
Indicates past states or conditions.
He was a teacher.
Had
Auxiliary verb in past perfect continuous tense.
He had been running.
Was
Used in passive voice sentences.
The book was written.
Had
Indicates relationships.
I had two siblings.
Was
Third-person singular past tense of "be."
She was there.
Had
Past tense and past participle of have.
Was
First and third person singular past indicative of be. See Note at you-uns.
Had
Simple past tense and past participle of have|cap=1.
This morning I had an egg for breakfast.
A good time was had by all.
Was
Inflection of be.
I was castigated and scorned.
Had
Used to form the past perfect tense, expressing an action that took place prior to a reference point that is itself in the past.
I felt sure that I had seen him before.
Was
Inflection of be.
It was a really humongous slice of cake.
Had
As past subjunctive: would have.
Was
Used in phrases with existential there when the semantic subject is (usually third-person) plural.
There was three of them there.
Had
See Have.
And lever me is be pore and trewe.[And more agreeable to me it is to be poor and true.]
Him had been lever to be syke.[To him it had been preferable to be sick.]
For him was lever have at his bed's headTwenty bookes, clad in black or red, . . . Than robes rich, or fithel, or gay sawtrie.
Poor lady, she were better love a dream.
You were best hang yourself.
Me rather had my heart might feel your loveThan my unpleased eye see your courtesy.
I hadde levere than my scherte,That ye hadde rad his legende, as have I.
I had as lief not be as live to beIn awe of such a thing as I myself.
I had rather be a dog and bay the moon,Than such a Roman.
I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
Was
Inflection of be.
Was
Inflection of be
Was
Inflection of be
Was
The first and third persons singular of the verb be, in the indicative mood, preterit (imperfect) tense; as, I was; he was.
Common Curiosities
What is the main function of "had"?
"Had" primarily indicates possession or past actions.
Can "had" be an auxiliary verb?
Yes, "had" can function as an auxiliary verb in past perfect tenses.
When is "was" used?
"Was" is used to describe past states or conditions.
How do you negate "was"?
"Was not" or "wasn't."
Is "was" used in passive voice?
Yes, "was" can be used in the passive voice.
Can "had" be used without an object?
Generally, "had" requires an object or complement.
Can "had" indicate a relationship?
Yes, as in "She had a sister."
Does "had" have a future tense?
No, "had" is the past tense of "have."
Can "was" function in perfect tenses?
No, "was" does not function in perfect tenses.
How do you negate "had"?
"Had not" or "hadn't."
What is the base form of "had"?
The base form of "had" is "have."
Can "was" stand alone?
Yes, "was" can stand alone as a linking verb.
Is "had" used in conditional sentences?
Yes, "had" is often used in third conditional sentences.
Does "was" imply a temporary state?
Often, "was" describes a state or condition that was true in the past.
Can "was" be used in questions?
Yes, as in "Was she there?"
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Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Edited by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
