were

used as the past tense of 'be' for second-person singular and plural subjects (you, they) in formal or written contexts

eran

• were + adj

Collocations were happy · were there

• We were late for the meeting.

  Eran tarde para la reunión.

used to talk about a situation that is not real or did not happen in the past, often with 'if'

hubieran sido

• were + adj

Collocations were to do something · were not to happen

• If I were you, I would take the job.

  Si fueras tú, tomaría el trabajo.