there were rain

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence 'there were rain' is not correct in written English.
The correct sentence would be 'It was raining'. For example: It was raining heavily during the storm last night.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

The wind was swirling and there were rain showers.

Independent

There were rain delays and lost sessions at the United States Open, pushed again to a Monday men's final.

The New York Times - Sports

At the men's Rogers Cup in Toronto this week, there were rain delays every day before Friday, while the women's version of the event in Montreal had delays on two days.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Graeme Virtue Will there be rain this year?

The Guardian - TV & Radio

These days, there's about as much optimism in Arizona as there is rain.

The New York Times

In the distance there are rain clouds, while a lightning bolt drops from the sky.

The New York Times

Thank God there were rains, and the harvests were very good before.

The New York Times

There was rain.

The New York Times - Travel

Anything can happen if there is rain".

The New York Times - Sports

"There was rain, sleet, snow.

The New York Times - Sports

There's rain up ahead this weekend.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing past weather events, use the correct grammatical structure such as "it was raining" or "there was rain" to ensure clarity and accuracy.

Common error

Don't use "there were rain" as it's grammatically incorrect. Instead, opt for "there was rain" (singular) or rephrase to "it was raining" for correct usage.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "there were rain" functions as an existential clause attempting to assert the existence of rain. However, it's grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI points out, a more accurate form would be "there was rain" or "it was raining".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "there were rain" is grammatically incorrect. Although Ludwig provides examples of its usage, these instances do not legitimize the form. Instead, use "there was rain" or "it was raining" for accurate and clear communication. When writing, pay attention to noun-verb agreement. As Ludwig AI shows, credible sources contain instances of the phrase, yet the ungrammatical form should be avoided.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it rained

Expresses the occurrence of rain simply and directly, replacing the more awkward original phrasing.

there was rainfall

Uses a more appropriate noun form to describe the presence of rain.

rain was falling

Describes the act of raining using a continuous verb tense for a more vivid depiction.

it was raining

Employs a grammatically correct construction to describe ongoing rain.

rain occurred

Provides a formal and factual way to state that rain happened.

precipitation happened

Uses a broader term for atmospheric moisture to indicate rain.

the rain came down

Offers a more descriptive and evocative way to talk about rain.

rain was present

States the existence of rain in a straightforward manner.

showers took place

Specifies that brief periods of rain (showers) happened.

wet weather prevailed

Describes the general condition of having rainy weather.

FAQs

What's the correct way to say "there were rain"?

The grammatically correct way to express this idea is to say "there was rain" (using the singular "was") or, more commonly, "it was raining".

Is "there were rain" ever correct?

No, "there were rain" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. The correct alternatives are /s/there+was+rain or /s/it+was+raining, depending on the intended meaning.

What are some alternatives to saying "there were rain"?

Instead of "there were rain", you can use phrases such as "it rained", "there was rainfall", or "rain was falling" to convey the same meaning with better grammatical accuracy.

What is the difference between "there was rain" and "there were rain"?

"There was rain" is grammatically correct because "rain" is an uncountable noun and takes a singular verb. "There were rain" is incorrect because it uses the plural verb "were" with the singular noun "rain".