Azizi:

It's not a matter of singular versus plural. You say "you were" in speaking to a single person. It is a matter of mood and tense.

The same word "were" is used to form the past tense when talking about something thata lready happened (you were reading posts, they were shopping) as is used for the subjunctive mood which expresses conditional or possible, where it is used in first, second and third persons, plural and singular. (Eg: If I were in Kansas right now, I'd barf. If you were as good as you think you are you wouldn't have the jitters. If only you were here. If Big Bob were here right now, you would be sorry you said that...etc.)

It is a very arbitrary system, but it works pretty well. If Fuzzy Wuzzy were a human I am sure he would agree.


A