we

we

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Pronunciation

IPA Phonetic Spelling:

• /wiː/ (General American, Received Pronunciation)

• w - /w/ (as in "west")

• ee - /iː/ (as in "see" or "tree")

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Word Form Variations

We" is a pronoun. Pronouns don't have singular/plural variations in the same way nouns do; instead, they have different forms depending on their grammatical role (subject, object, possessive, etc.) and number (singular vs. plural).

• Pronoun:

• Subjective case: we

• Objective case: us

• Possessive adjective: our

• Possessive pronoun: ours

• Reflexive pronoun: ourselves

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Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

Pronoun

1. Used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves and one or more other people collectively. (First person plural subjective pronoun)

• Example: "We are going to the park."

• Synonyms: (No direct synonyms; "I and others," "myself and them")

• Antonyms: you, they, he, she, it

2. Used to refer to people in general, or to a specific group including the speaker, implying a shared characteristic or experience. (Generalizing or inclusive use)

• Example: "We all make mistakes sometimes."

• Synonyms: humanity, people, everyone (in context)

• Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; "they," "individuals")

3. Used by a monarch, editor, or other dignitary to refer to themselves. (Royal "we" or editorial "we")

• Example: "It is with great pleasure that we announce..."

• Synonyms: I (in formal or royal context)

• Antonyms: (No direct antonyms; depends on context of use)

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Examples of Use

• Books:

• "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." (Winston Churchill, often quoted in various collections)

• Newspapers:

• "As citizens, we must hold our leaders accountable for the promises they make on climate change." (The Standard)

• Online Publications:

• "At Google, we believe that technology can unlock new opportunities for everyone." (Google.com)

• Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:

• "We are the champions, my friend, and we'll keep on fighting 'til the end." (Queen, "We Are the Champions," 1977)

• "Here at ABC News, we bring you the stories that matter most to our viewers." (Television news anchor)

• "Welcome, everyone! In today's video, we're going to build a miniature rocket." (YouTube creator, "Science Adventures,")

• General Public Discourse:

• "Are we still on for dinner tonight?"

• "We need to work together to solve this problem."

• "The management regrets to inform you that we will be closing early today."

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10 Quotes Using We

1. "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." (Winston Churchill)

2. "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." (Franklin D. Roosevelt, First Inaugural Address, March 1933)

3. "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit." (Will Durant, summarizing Aristotle)

4. "Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country. Ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man." (John F. Kennedy, Inaugural Address, January 1961)

5. "We're all mad here." (Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, 1865)

6. "We are the champions, my friend." (Queen, "We Are the Champions," 1977)

7. "In a world we didn't make, in a world we can't unmake, we must remake." (Ursula K. Le Guin)

8. "We shall overcome." (Civil Rights Movement anthem, popularized by Pete Seeger and Joan Baez)

9. "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal." (United States Declaration of Independence, 1776)

10. "We must be the change we wish to see in the world." (Mahatma Gandhi)

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Etymology

The word "we" is an incredibly ancient and fundamental pronoun in the English language, with roots stretching back thousands of years.

It comes from the Old English word "wē." This "wē" already functioned exactly as our modern "we" does: to refer to the speaker or writer along with one or more other people.

Tracing its history even further back, "wē" originated from the *Proto-Germanic word "wiz." This ancient Germanic root also meant "we."

Before that, it's believed to stem from the *Proto-Indo-European root "we-," which was a plural pronoun referring to "us" or "we." This makes "we" a cognate (a word with a common origin) with similar forms in many other Indo-European languages, showing its deep, shared linguistic heritage.

So, the first known use of "we" in English (in its Old English form "wē") appears in texts from as early as the 8th century or even earlier. Its original meaning was precisely what we understand today: the first-person plural pronoun, referring to the speaker and others. This word has been remarkably stable and consistent in its meaning throughout its long history.

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Phrases + Idioms Containing We

Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "we":

• We the people (a common opening to constitutions, emphasizing collective authority)

• We'll see (used to indicate uncertainty about a future event)

• We're all in this together (emphasizing shared circumstances or challenges)

• We're not amused (a formal or royal expression of displeasure)

• What we're saying is... (used to clarify or elaborate on a point)

• We go way back (to have known someone for a long time)

• We've got this (expressing confidence in overcoming a challenge as a group)

• Here we go again (indicating a repetitive or predictable situation)

• As we speak (at this very moment)

• We'll cross that bridge when we come to it (to deal with a problem only when it actually arises)

• We could do worse (this option is acceptable, despite its flaws)

• We're good (informal way to say "we're fine" or "no thanks")

• We're talking about... (to emphasize the scale or importance of something)

• Where do we go from here? (a question about the next steps or future direction)

• We're on the same page (to agree or have a shared understanding)

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Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA

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Source Information

Definition of we from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.

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