there were days when

USAGE SUMMARY

"there were days when" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this phrase to refer to a period of time in the past when certain conditions existed. For example, "There were days when I was too ashamed to leave the house."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

There were days when I ate nothing.

The New Yorker

There were days when we got more than 40 shells.

The Guardian

There were days when you didn't make a penny.

The New York Times

There were days when the boys had three gelati.

The New York Times - Travel

"There were days when I felt I could do anything.

The Guardian

There were days when they attended classes at their schools, and there were days when they just decided not to.

The New York Times - Magazine

There were days when the passers-by filled 20 banners.

The New York Times

And there were days when I wondered that myself.

The New York Times

No one I knew committed suicide, although there were days when we were very discouraged.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

There's days when I'm not".

The New York Times - Magazine

"There are days when I'm weary.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "there were days when" to describe recurring situations or experiences in the past, providing specific context to the described events. For example, "There were days when I doubted my abilities, but I never gave up."

Common error

Avoid using "there were days when" when a simpler past tense would suffice. For example, instead of "There were days when I walked to school", simply say "I walked to school."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "there were days when" functions as an adverbial phrase, providing temporal context to a statement. It indicates that something occurred repeatedly or was true during a period in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Formal & Business

6%

Science

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "there were days when" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression for describing recurring past events or conditions. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples of its usage. Predominantly found in the "News & Media", it serves to add temporal context and background to narratives, and it can be considered neutral in terms of formality. While versatile, it's best to avoid overuse in place of simpler past tense constructions. Consider alternatives like "there were times when" or "on some days" for varied expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

there were times when

Replaces "days" with "times", broadening the reference beyond specific days to encompass more general periods.

on some days

Offers a slightly less emphatic way to indicate that something happened occasionally.

there were occasions when

Substitutes "days" with "occasions", suggesting specific instances or events.

during that period

Focuses on a specific duration instead of recurring days.

back in the day

An idiomatic expression referring to a past time, often nostalgic.

in those days

Highlights a specific past era or period.

at times

A more concise way to express occasional occurrences.

some days

A shorter, less formal alternative.

there were instances when

Replaces "days" with "instances", emphasizing specific occurrences.

occasionally

An adverb that directly indicates something happened from time to time, without reference to days.

FAQs

How can I use "there were days when" in a sentence?

Use "there were days when" to describe recurring situations or experiences in the past. For example, "There were days when I felt completely lost."

What are some alternatives to "there were days when"?

You can use alternatives like "there were times when", "on some days", or "in those days" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "there was days when"?

No, the correct phrasing is "there were days when". "Were" is used because "days" is plural.

What's the difference between "there were days when" and "some days"?

"There were days when" emphasizes a recurring pattern or condition, whereas "some days" simply indicates that something happened on a few occasions.