as we were driving

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "as we were driving" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action or event that occurred during the time of driving. Example: "As we were driving, we noticed a beautiful sunset on the horizon."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"There was that movie 'Gremlins,' " he said as we were driving.

The New Yorker

"You have to trust your senses," Katz said, as we were driving away.

The New Yorker

And, one day, as we were driving around, she said something interesting.

The New Yorker

"I won't pass up a snake," he told me as we were driving through the park one afternoon.

The New Yorker

"It's flat as a fuckin' pancake," Matt Umanov told me, as we were driving along the Hudson one morning.

The New Yorker

"The second one, Jurassic World 2, and as we were driving we tried to find, what is the foundation?

Independent

As we were driving down what was known as Crozier's Hill, she said, "I don't think he wanted to frighten them.

The New Yorker

"I need my brewers to be able to blow off steam," he told me, as we were driving to the pub that morning to make the Finnish sahti.

The New Yorker

As we were driving to Castro, Sue spotted some flamencos, so by the time we arrived at our destination, I had forgiven the weather.

The Guardian - Travel

As we were driving home, he turned to me and with great excitement said, "Dad, you should take the turnpike to temple for Yom Kippur".

The New York Times

"The bus came under attack as we were driving to the stadium, the gunmen targeted the wheels of the bus first and then the bus," Jayawardene told Cricinfo.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as we were driving" to set the scene or provide background information when narrating an event that happened during a car journey. It helps establish a sense of time and place for the reader.

Common error

Avoid abruptly switching tenses within the same sentence when using "as we were driving". Ensure the main clause maintains a logical temporal relationship with the driving action.

Linguistic Context

"As we were driving" functions as a subordinate conjunction introducing a dependent clause that provides context or background information to the main clause. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase commonly introduces a setting or a situation during which something else occurred.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "as we were driving" is a common and grammatically correct way to introduce a scenario that occurred during a car journey. As Ludwig AI confirms, its primary function is to establish temporal context, setting the scene for an event. Primarily found in News & Media, it's essential to use the phrase to ensure tense consistency within the sentence. Alternatives such as "while we drove" and "during the drive" can be used for variation, but "as we were driving" remains a clear and effective choice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

while we drove

Replaces the continuous aspect with a simple past tense, focusing on the completed action of driving.

whilst travelling

A British English equivalent, using 'whilst' instead of 'while'.

during the drive

Substitutes a prepositional phrase for the conjunction, making the sentence more concise.

on our drive

Similar to 'during the drive', but with a slightly more informal tone.

as we travelled by car

More verbose, specifying the mode of transportation.

as the car moved

Focuses on the car's motion rather than the act of driving itself.

en route

A more formal way to say 'on the way', implying travel but not specifically driving.

in transit

Similar to 'en route', suggesting a general state of traveling.

during our travels

Generalizes the context to any form of travel, not just driving.

along the way

Focuses on events happening during a journey, omitting specific mention of driving.

FAQs

How can I use "as we were driving" in a sentence?

Use "as we were driving" to introduce an event that occurred during a car journey. For example, "As we were driving, we saw a deer crossing the road."

What are some alternatives to "as we were driving"?

You can use alternatives like "while we drove", "during the drive", or "on our drive" depending on the context.

Is "as we drove" grammatically correct instead of "as we were driving"?

While "as we drove" is grammatically correct, it implies a slightly different nuance. "As we were driving" suggests a continuous action forming the backdrop for another event, whereas "as we drove" simply indicates that two events happened in sequence during the car journey.

What's the difference between "as we were driving" and "while we were driving"?

Both phrases are largely interchangeable. However, "as we were driving" might slightly emphasize the setting or circumstance of the driving itself, whereas "while we were driving" focuses more directly on the simultaneous actions or events that occurred.