Word: we Part of Speech: pron Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *wéyder. Proto-Germanic *wīz Proto-West Germanic *wiʀ Old English wē Middle English we English we From Middle English we, from Old English wē (“we”), from Proto-West Germanic *wiʀ, from Proto-Germanic *wīz, *wiz (“we”), from Proto-Indo-European *wéy (“we (plural)”). Cognate with Scots wee, we (“we”), North Frisian we (“we”), West Frisian wy (“we”), Low German wi (“we”), Dutch we, wij (“we”), German wir (“we”), Danish, Swedish and Norwegian vi (“we”), Icelandic vér, við (“we”), Avestan 𐬬𐬀𐬉𐬨 (vaēm), Sanskrit वयम् (vayám). Pronunciation: /wiː/, /wi/ 1. Two or more people including or consisting of the speaker(s)/writer(s). Labels: first-person, nominative, personal, plural, pronoun Example: We are here to arrest you. Example: It’s time to overcome queasiness and restraint. We, the liberal and progressive people of the world, are at war with the far right to save the earth. 2. Two or more people including or consisting of the speaker(s)/writer(s). Labels: first-person, nominative, personal, plural, pronoun Example: We need to have a talk, you and me. 3. The institution which the speaker/writer is acting for. (This is the editorial we, used by writers and others when speaking with the authority of their publication or organisation.) Labels: first-person, nominative, personal, plural, pronoun Example: We will in due course state our reasons for publishing the name of the accused. Example: As the government, we have a duty to ensure public safety. 4. Any other entity that the speaker is a part of or identifies with, such as place of employment or education, nation, region, language, etc. Labels: first-person, nominative, personal, plural, pronoun Example: I went to watch our school football match against Puddletown High. We lost 2-0. Example: In English, we do not inflect adjectives for gender. 5. People in general. Labels: first-person, nominative, personal, plural, pronoun Example: We live and learn. Example: We still have much to learn about quantum mechanics. 6. The sovereign alone in his or her capacity as monarch. (This is the royal we. The reflexive case of this sense of we is ourself.) Labels: first-person, nominative, personal, plural, pronoun Example: We are Queen of all these Isles. Example: Everything we do is so wholesome. 7. Everyone being addressed. Labels: colloquial, first-person, nominative, personal, plural, pronoun Example: Good evening everyone. How are we all tonight? 8. An individual being addressed; used especially to a person in the speaker's care, or to whom advice or instruction is being given. (Sometimes called the nurse's we or the doctor's we.) Labels: colloquial, first-person, nominative, personal, plural, pronoun Example: Hello Mrs Miggins. How are we feeling this morning? Example: You've been spending all your money boozing when you have a wife and family to support. I think we need to get our priorities straight. 9. Used to refer to a third person, especially someone in the speaker's care. Labels: colloquial, first-person, nominative, personal, plural, pronoun, uncommon Example: "I've just been to see Mrs Miggins." — "And how is she?" — "I'm afraid we aren't too good today." 10. Used to connect to or include readers or listeners. Labels: colloquial, first-person, nominative, personal, plural, pronoun Example: Hey guys, in this video I'll show you how I make my upside-down sponge cake. First we take 200 g of butter and we whisk in 200 g of sugar. Next, we ... Example: All Vice President [Mike] Pence has to do is send it back to the states to recertify and we become president and you are the happiest people. 11. Used to connect to or include readers or listeners. Labels: first-person, nominative, personal, plural, pronoun Example: To solve the equation, we first collect all the terms in x on one side. 12. Used when talking to oneself to refer to oneself. Labels: colloquial, first-person, nominative, personal, plural, pronoun Example: Now then ... let me see ... I hope I'm doing this right ... if we just connect these two wires together ... 13. Us. Labels: West-Country, archaic, first-person, nominative, personal, plural, pronoun 14. The side which is keeping score. Labels: first-person, nominative, personal, plural, pronoun