The words we’re is a contraction. The words we are have been bumped together to make one word. The apostrophe (‘) takes the place of the missing letter a.
Use we’re anytime you could also use we are.
We are having a party tonight. We’re having a party tonight.
We are busy tomorrow. We’re busy tomorrow.
I told Mom we are going to be late. I told Mom we’re going to be late.
The word were is a verb. Use the verb were to talk about something that happened in the past.
We were late getting home.
We were busy when you called.
My brother and I were watching a movie when the power went out.
We were hungry this afternoon.
The words we’re and were look very similar. Use we’re when you could also say we are. Use were as a verb.
▶ It’s your turn. Decide whether you should put we’re or were into this sentence: The church bells ______ ringing at midnight. Did you use the verb rather than the contraction? Good for you!