as we took

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as we took" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action or experience that occurred simultaneously with another action, often in a narrative context. Example: "As we took our first steps into the forest, the sounds of nature enveloped us."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

As we took photographs, most people fled.

Independent

As we took off, Sohn unwrapped a lollipop.

The New Yorker

"We will take back the streets as we took back the subway," Bratton told reporters Thursday.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

He held the wheel tightly as we took the switchbacks up the mountain.

The New Yorker

"As we took the bus over the mountain, my stomach flipped," she said.

The New York Times

I cringed as we took complimentary photos with African children whose names we didn't know.

The Guardian

It was snowing as we took a taxi to the airport.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

She said we could go ahead as long as we took care of the expenses".

The New York Times

As we took his direction, Tunick transformed a disorganised crowd of civilians into beautiful art objects.

The Guardian - Arts

As we took each item out, we sat round a table, noting its condition.

The Guardian - Arts

"We should have stressed, as soon as we took office, the real state of the economy," Mr Valls says.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as we took" to clearly indicate actions happening simultaneously, creating a sense of immediacy and narrative flow. For example, "As we took our seats, the lights dimmed, signaling the start of the performance."

Common error

Avoid using "as we took" when describing actions that happened in sequence without overlap. Instead of saying "As we took the key, we opened the door", use "After we took the key, we opened the door" to show a clear order of events.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as we took" functions primarily as an adverbial clause of time, indicating when another action occurred. It introduces a subordinate clause that modifies the main clause, providing temporal context. Ludwig examples confirm its use in various sentence structures.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

71%

Academia

14%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "as we took" is a grammatically correct and very common way to describe actions occurring simultaneously, according to Ludwig. It functions as an adverbial clause of time, providing temporal context in various narratives and settings. Its neutral register makes it suitable for diverse writing styles, although more formal alternatives exist for highly sophisticated contexts. Predominantly found in News & Media sources, this phrase offers a versatile tool for writers seeking to create a sense of immediacy and narrative flow. Ludwig AI confirms this by classifying this expression as correct.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

while we were taking

Replaces "as" with "while" and uses the past continuous tense for a more descriptive simultaneous action.

during our taking

Uses "during" to emphasize the time frame when the action occurred.

upon taking

Formal alternative, indicating something happened immediately after the action.

when we undertook

Replaces "took" with "undertook", indicating a formal beginning or start.

in the process of taking

Highlights the process or act of taking something.

as we were in the act of taking

Emphasizes the moment when the action occurred.

just as we grabbed

Using grabbed instead of took for a more descriptive action.

at the point when we secured

Using secured instead of took to indicate gaining control or possession

during the time we claimed

Claimed to indicate taking possession.

in the instant we captured

Capture as a more vivid and instantaneous alternative to 'took'.

FAQs

How can I use "as we took" in a sentence?

Use "as we took" to describe an action happening at the same time as another. For example, "As we took our seats, the concert began."

What can I say instead of "as we took"?

Alternatives include "while we were taking", "during our taking", or "upon taking", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "as we took" and "after we took"?

"As we took" implies simultaneous actions, while "after we took" indicates a sequence. For example, "As we took the stage, the crowd cheered" versus "After we took the stage, we performed our song."

Can "as we took" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "as we took" is appropriate for both formal and informal contexts. However, in highly formal writing, consider alternatives like "upon taking" for a more sophisticated tone.