that were

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'that were' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when comparing something to its past state or to refer to a hypothetical past state. For example, "The library was once filled with books that were mostly about history."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

As if that were news.

The New York Times - Arts

If only that were so.

The New York Times

As if that were possible.

The New York Times

Princess costumes that were — horrors!

The New York Times - Books

Boiled greens that were gray.

The New York Times - Food

Things that were sharp dulled.

The New Yorker

Moments like that were glorious.

The New York Times

As if that were a good thing.

The New Yorker

Others plunged into markets that were saturated.

The Economist

Sure, there were things that were irritating.

The New York Times

Things that were in focus fogged.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing past conditions or states, ensure the verb tense aligns correctly. Example: "The conditions "that were" present then are different now."

Common error

Avoid using "that was" when referring to plural nouns. "That was" is for singular nouns. Correct: "The problems "that were" identified." Incorrect: "The problems that was identified."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that were" functions as a relative pronoun and auxiliary verb combination, introducing a relative clause that modifies a noun in the past tense. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is grammatically sound and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

12%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "that were" is a common and grammatically sound construction used to introduce relative clauses in the past tense. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. Its versatility is evident in its prevalence across diverse contexts, including news, scientific writing, and general usage. While its register is generally neutral, it's crucial to ensure proper usage with plural nouns and avoid confusion with singular forms like "that was". Alternatives such as "which had been" or "that used to be" can add nuance, but "that were" remains a standard and effective way to describe past conditions or characteristics.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that once were

Adds "once" to emphasize that something was true in the past but is no longer true now.

that used to be

Employs "used to be" to indicate a past state or habitual action that is no longer ongoing.

which had been

Uses "which" instead of "that" to introduce a nonrestrictive clause and "had been" to emphasize a past state.

that had existed

Replaces "were" with "had existed" to focus on the past existence of something.

which constituted

Uses "which constituted" to specify what elements composed something in the past.

that consisted of

Replaces "were" with "consisted of" to describe the components of something in the past.

that comprised

Uses "comprised" to indicate the elements that made up something in the past.

that previously happened

Substitutes "were" with "previously happened" to emphasize the occurrence of an event in the past.

which embodied

Replaces "were" with "embodied" to emphasize a specific quality or characteristic in the past.

that have been

Switches to the present perfect tense to describe something that started in the past and continues to the present.

FAQs

How do I use "that were" in a sentence?

"That were" is used to introduce a relative clause referring to a plural noun in the past. For example, "The documents "that were missing" have been found".

What are some alternatives to using "that were"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "which had been", "that had existed", or "that used to be".

Is it correct to say "that was" instead of "that were"?

No, "that was" is used with singular nouns, while "that were" is used with plural nouns. For instance, "The book that was interesting" versus "The books "that were interesting"".

What's the difference between "that were" and "which were"?

"That were" introduces a restrictive clause necessary for defining the noun, while "which were" introduces a nonrestrictive clause providing additional, non-essential information. Example: "The houses "that were damaged" needed repair" (defining) vs. "The houses, which were damaged, needed repair" (additional information).