The word ‘was’ is a verb. Specifically, it is the past tense form of the verb ‘to be.’
In English grammar, ‘to be’ is an irregular verb that serves as a linking verb, helping to connect the subject of a sentence with its complement. The word ‘was’ is used when referring to a singular subject in the past, indicating that an action or state existed in a previous time.
For example, in the sentence ‘She was happy,’ ‘was’ links the subject ‘She’ with the adjective ‘happy,’ describing her state in the past. Understanding the function of ‘was’ is crucial for using past tenses correctly in English writing and speech.