that were not

USAGE SUMMARY

'that were not' is a correct part of a sentence in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that didn't happen in the past. Example: I remember all the summer days that were not spent inside.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was the photos that were not.

The New York Times

It compared measurements that were not comparable.

Independent

Just some thoughts that were not mentioned.

Columbia University

It gave statements that were "not true".

The Guardian - Tech

"I created enemies that were not there.

The New York Times - Sports

Some cars that were not cool.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Those that were not were discarded".

The New York Times

It struck poses that were not real.

The Guardian

"These were promises that were not kept.

The Guardian - Sport

Two shoes that were not fellows!

The New Yorker

Lots of questions that were not explained in article.

Harvard University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "that were not", ensure the context provides a clear contrast or alternative. This makes the negation more meaningful and easier to understand for the reader.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on passive constructions with "that were not". Instead, consider rephrasing to use active voice for a more direct and engaging style. For example, instead of "decisions that were not made", try "decisions they didn't make".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "that were not" functions as a relative clause, modifying a noun by specifying a condition or characteristic that did not apply. It connects a descriptive clause to a noun, providing essential or non-essential information. Ludwig shows examples from various fields using this structure.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "that were not" functions as a relative clause to negate a state or characteristic of a noun, as validated by Ludwig. Predominantly found in News & Media, Science, and Academic contexts, this phrase maintains a neutral register and serves to distinguish and specify what something is not. Ludwig AI highlights that it's a grammatically correct construction. When writing, aim for clarity by providing clear contrasts and consider using active voice where appropriate for a more engaging style.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

that weren't

A contraction of "that were not", maintaining the same meaning but in a more informal tone.

which were not

Uses "which" instead of "that", suitable for non-restrictive clauses providing additional information.

which didn't

Informal contraction using "which" and "didn't" for non-restrictive clauses.

that did not

Emphasizes the action or state that did not occur, rather than a quality that was absent.

that didn't

A contraction of "that did not", providing a more casual alternative.

that failed to

Focuses on the failure to achieve a specific outcome or state.

that have not

Shifts the focus to actions or states that have not yet occurred or been completed.

that lacked

Highlights the absence of a particular attribute or quality.

that are not

Changes the tense to present, describing something that is currently not in a certain state.

that is not

Changes the tense to present singular, to describe when a single element doesn't meet a particular condition.

FAQs

How can I use "that were not" in a sentence?

Use "that were not" to specify characteristics or conditions that something did not meet in the past. For example: "The files "that were not" properly labeled were discarded."

What's a more informal way to say "that were not"?

A more informal option is "that weren't". It's a contraction of "that were not" and suitable for casual contexts.

When should I use "which were not" instead of "that were not"?

"Which were not" is best used in non-restrictive clauses, providing additional, non-essential information. "That were not" is generally used in restrictive clauses, which are essential to the sentence's meaning. For example: "The books, which were not properly cataloged, were moved to storage."

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "that were not"?

While grammatically correct, passive voice with "that were not" can sometimes be less direct. Consider rephrasing in active voice for clarity and impact, when appropriate. For example, instead of "mistakes "that were not" corrected", try "mistakes they didn't correct".