are owned

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are owned" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate possession or ownership, typically in a passive construction. Example: "The properties are owned by the city council."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

(The others are owned by franchisees).

The New York Times

The Hornets are owned by the league.

The New York Times - Sports

Many teams are owned by rock stars.

The New Yorker

Some stalls are owned by Arabs.

The Economist

All commons are owned by someone, somewhere".

Independent

The companies are owned by his parents.

The New York Times

Most loans are owned by investors.

The New York Times

In fact, none are owned by MERS.

The New York Times

(Both channels are owned by News Corp).

The New Yorker

Most of these are owned by municipalities.

The Economist

"They are owned by a hundred people.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "are owned", ensure the subject clearly identifies what entities possess ownership. For example: "The companies are owned by his parents."

Common error

Avoid using "are owned" when active voice is more direct and clear. Instead of "The car are owned by him", use "He owns the car."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are owned" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that the subject receives the action of being owned. Ludwig AI confirms this usage is grammatically correct and common. For example, "The companies are owned by his parents".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

33%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "are owned" serves as a common and grammatically sound method for indicating possession or control, as validated by Ludwig AI. It appears frequently in various contexts, especially in News & Media and Science domains. When using "are owned", it's important to clearly specify who owns what and to consider whether the active voice might offer a more direct expression. Alternatives like "belong to" or "are possessed by" can be used for variety, yet "are owned" remains a widely accepted and understood phrase for conveying ownership.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

are possessed by

Replaces "owned" with "possessed", emphasizing the act of holding or having something.

belong to

A common and simple alternative indicating ownership.

are held by

Focuses on the action of holding as a form of ownership or control.

are under the control of

Highlights the aspect of control rather than just ownership.

are the property of

A more formal way to state ownership, emphasizing legal rights.

are in the hands of

Suggests possession and often implies management or use.

are managed by

Emphasizes the management aspect of ownership.

are administered by

Suggests a formal or official control.

are looked after by

Implies responsibility and care in addition to ownership.

are the responsibility of

Highlights the accountability linked to ownership.

FAQs

How can I use "are owned" in a sentence?

Use "are owned" to indicate who possesses something. For example: "The properties are owned by the city council".

What is a good substitute for "are owned"?

Alternatives include "belong to", "are possessed by", or "are held by", depending on the context.

What does it mean when something is "are owned"?

It means that someone has legal possession or control over that thing. It implies a right of ownership.

Is it better to use active or passive voice when describing ownership?

It depends on the emphasis. If you want to highlight the owner, active voice (e.g., "He owns the car") is better. If you want to emphasize the item, passive voice (e.g., "The car is owned by him") may be preferable.