there were sometimes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "there were sometimes" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that certain events or situations occurred on some occasions in the past. Example: "There were sometimes moments of doubt during the project, but we persevered."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Arts

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

There were sometimes grand humanitarian gestures.

The Guardian - Opinion

There were sometimes layoffs, which halted construction for long periods.

The New York Times - Arts

There were sometimes 60 children in a class.

The Guardian

There were sometimes emotional confrontations based on racial differences.

The New York Times

"It's true that there were sometimes fights," Cammas said.

The New York Times - Sports

But it wouldn't surprise me if there were sometimes speeds of over 170mph during matches.

The Guardian

There were sometimes guests, in addition to Grace, on these Sunday evenings.

The New Yorker

He would occasionally be gone for a few days, recovering; there were sometimes problems writing lyrics.

The New Yorker

As a result there were sometimes three or four radically different settings of the same words.

The Guardian - Music

On Saturday there were sometimes remnants of congestion in her lower range.

The New York Times - Arts

Even when AltSchool's methods worked as intended, there were sometimes questionable results.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "there were sometimes", ensure the context clearly indicates the events or conditions were not constant or predictable, but occurred with some degree of irregularity. This adds nuance and precision to your writing.

Common error

Avoid relying too heavily on "there were sometimes" in your writing. Vary your sentence structure by using adverbs like "occasionally", "periodically", or "intermittently" to maintain reader engagement and enhance the flow of your text.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "there were sometimes" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb or clause to indicate frequency. It specifies that an event or state occurred occasionally, but not consistently. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Arts

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "there were sometimes" serves as a common and grammatically sound way to indicate occasional occurrences. Ludwig AI validates this through a multitude of examples from reputable sources. While versatile across registers, it's important to use it judiciously and vary sentence structure to maintain engaging writing. Alternatives such as "occasionally there were" or "at times there were" can add stylistic variation. When you want to express the idea of occasional occurrences or events, providing variety in writing while maintaining similar meaning is key.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

occasionally there were

Swaps the adverbial phrase for a single adverb, changing the sentence structure slightly.

at times there were

Replaces "sometimes" with "at times", offering a slightly more formal tone.

on occasion, there were

Moves the adverbial phrase to the beginning for emphasis.

there were instances where

Uses a more formal and specific wording, focusing on particular instances.

there were occasions when

Similar to "instances where" but emphasizes the opportunity or event aspect.

sometimes there existed

Changes the verb from "were" to "existed", implying a state of being rather than an action.

there had been instances of

Shifts to the past perfect tense, implying the instances occurred before a specific point in time.

there were periods when

Emphasizes specific time spans when events occurred.

frequently there were

Replaces "sometimes" with the more frequentative "frequently", suggesting a higher occurrence rate.

certainly there were

Adds a degree of certainty while maintaining the idea of occasional occurence.

FAQs

How can I use "there were sometimes" in a sentence?

Use "there were sometimes" to indicate that something happened occasionally but not regularly. For example, "There were sometimes delays in the project timeline /s/project+timeline due to unforeseen circumstances."

What are some alternatives to "there were sometimes"?

Alternatives include "occasionally there were", "at times there were", or "there were occasions when". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired level of formality.

Is it better to say "sometimes there were" or "there were sometimes"?

"There were sometimes" is the more common and natural-sounding phrase. While "sometimes there were" isn't grammatically incorrect, it can sound slightly awkward or less polished in most contexts.

What's the difference between "there were sometimes" and "there were always"?

"There were sometimes" indicates that something happened occasionally, while "there were always" suggests it happened consistently or invariably. They convey opposite frequencies.