The words "had" and "was" are both forms of the verb "to be," which is one of the most commonly used verbs in the English language. Despite their similar functions, "had" and "was" are used in different ways, and it is important to understand the differences between them in order to use them correctly.
"Had" is the past tense of the verb "to have," which is used to indicate possession or ownership. It is also used as the past tense of "to hold," as in "I had the ball in my hand." In addition to these uses, "had" is also used as the past participle of "to have," which is used to form verb tense in various tenses and moods.
For example, "I had a headache yesterday" uses the past tense of "to have," indicating that the speaker had a headache at some point in the past. Similarly, "I had been waiting for hours" uses the past participle of "to have" to form the past perfect tense, indicating that the speaker had been waiting for a period of time that ended in the past.
On the other hand, "was" is the past tense of the verb "to be," which is used to indicate a state of being or existence. It is also used as the past participle of "to be," which is used to form verb tense in various tenses and moods.
For example, "I was tired yesterday" uses the past tense of "to be," indicating that the speaker was tired at some point in the past. Similarly, "I had been tired for hours" uses the past participle of "to be" to form the past perfect tense, indicating that the speaker had been tired for a period of time that ended in the past.
In summary, "had" is used as the past tense and past participle of "to have," while "was" is used as the past tense and past participle of "to be." It is important to use these verbs correctly in order to communicate effectively in the English language.