Check the Past Simple of verb "to be":
I was, You were, He/She/It was, We were, You were, They were.
Ex.: "I was glad to hear you were coming"
Sometimes you may find "were" as the subjunctive mood, expressing a wish or something improbable:
If I were, if you were, if he/she/it were...
Ex: "If I were you, I wouldn't let her go"