if they were

USAGE SUMMARY

'if they were' is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is usually used in conditional sentences when something is being spoken about hypothetically. For example: "If they were to visit us next weekend, we would make sure to take them to the beach."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But if they were?

The New York Times - Sports

What if they were selfish?

The New York Times - Sports

What if they were jerks?

The New York Times - Sports

Even if they were goblins".

The New York Times - Magazine

Asked if they were Scouts.

The New Yorker

Even if they were, I disliked Lili.

The New Yorker

"I asked if they were in trouble.

Independent

But if they were good, they would.

Independent

But if they were, they never said.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

She asked them if they were visitors.

The New Yorker

I asked if they were artists.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "if they were" to introduce a hypothetical scenario, ensuring the subsequent clause logically follows from the condition. This phrase is particularly effective when exploring possibilities or considering alternative realities.

Common error

Avoid mixing tenses illogically. For example, don't say "If they were to come, I will have gone." Instead, maintain consistency with "If they were to come, I would go."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "if they were" functions primarily as a conditional clause, introducing a hypothetical situation or condition. As Ludwig AI states, it is used when something is being spoken about hypothetically. Examples in Ludwig show this phrase used to explore possibilities and counterfactual scenarios.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Science

22%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "if they were" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to introduce hypothetical scenarios or conditions. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in conditional sentences. It’s frequently used across various domains like News & Media and Science. To ensure clarity, avoid mixing tenses and use it to explore possibilities or speculate about alternative realities.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

imagine they were

Suggests a hypothetical scenario to consider.

supposing they were

Expresses a condition or hypothesis.

what if they happened to be

Explores a possibility or scenario.

presuming they were

Similar to supposing, but implies a degree of likelihood.

let's say they were

Introduces a hypothetical for the sake of argument.

considering they were

Introduces a condition with an element of contemplation.

given that they were

Introduces a condition based on a prior assumption.

assuming they existed

Emphasizes the hypothetical existence of something.

on the assumption they were

Highlights the assumption underlying a conditional statement.

in the event that they existed

Formal way of expressing a hypothetical situation.

FAQs

How can I use "if they were" in a sentence?

The phrase "if they were" introduces a hypothetical condition. For example, "If they were here, they would understand."

What's a more formal alternative to "if they were"?

A more formal alternative could be "in the event that they were", used to introduce a hypothetical situation in a formal context.

Is it correct to say "if they was" instead of "if they were"?

No, "if they was" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "if they were", using the plural form of the verb 'to be' to match the plural pronoun 'they'.

How does the meaning change if I use "if they are" instead of "if they were"?

"If they are" suggests a possibility that is currently true or likely, while "if they were" typically refers to a hypothetical or counterfactual situation.