there were that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'there were that' is not correct or usable in written English.
It is not a complete sentence. To make the phrase correct and usable in written English, replace 'that' with a noun phrase, for example, 'there were cats': "When I looked out the window, there were cats roaming in the yard."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I did not know what other parts in my body there were that might need to be cut off in the same way".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"No. 1 is to try to figure out what violations there were that could have caused this accident," she said, explaining that her agency would then issue fines for those violations.

The New York Times

When he was little he used to lie down in front of motorcars, and when you think how few motorcars there were, that would have been a huge gesture".

The New York Times

One of the remarkable aspects of Friday's decision is how the supreme court – which went out of its way to say Knox and Sollecito were innocent, not merely that there was a lack of evidence to convict them – will address those earlier assumptions about how many attackers there were that night in November 2007.

The Guardian

If I had known there were that much shabu inside a house, I would definitely kill you," he said.

Huffington Post

And as many reasons there were that pulled us together in '93, they were the same reasons that pulled us apart in 2007.

Huffington Post

Who even knew there were that many unique Android devices?

The Guardian - Tech

There were that many children going hungry in America.

The New York Times

"I didn't think there were that many color schemes," she says.

The Washington Post

BARTLET I didn't even think there were that many white women.

The New York Times

I didn't know there were that many people on the island".

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that "there were" is followed by a noun or noun phrase to clearly indicate what existed. For example, instead of "there were that", use "there were many options".

Common error

Avoid using "there were that" without completing the phrase with a noun. It's grammatically incomplete and often sounds awkward to native English speakers.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "there were that" typically functions as an expletive construction intended to indicate existence. However, without a specified noun following "that", it often fails to clearly convey the intended meaning. As Ludwig AI has correctly identified, the phrase requires completion for grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "there were that" appears frequently across various sources, yet it's often grammatically incomplete. Ludwig AI correctly identifies this issue, noting the necessity of a noun or noun phrase to clarify the intended meaning. While it is found in news and media, its usage should be approached with caution in formal settings. For clearer communication, consider alternatives like "there were those" or similar constructs. The abundance of examples doesn't equate to correctness, highlighting the importance of grammatical precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

there were those

Replaces "that" with "those" to refer to specific people or things, improving grammatical correctness.

there existed that

Uses "existed" instead of "were" to emphasize the existence of something.

there happened to be that

Adds "happened to be" to indicate chance or unexpectedness.

there used to be that

Indicates something that existed in the past but no longer does.

there seemed to be that

Introduces uncertainty or perception about the existence of something.

there must have been that

Expresses a deduction or assumption about something that existed.

there could have been that

Indicates a possibility that something existed in the past.

there might have been that

Similar to 'could have been,' but with a slightly lower degree of certainty.

there would have been that

Suggests a hypothetical scenario in the past.

there should have been that

Implies an expectation or obligation that something existed.

FAQs

How can I correctly use the phrase "there were that" in a sentence?

The phrase "there were that" is grammatically incorrect in standard English. You should replace "that" with a specific noun or noun phrase to complete the meaning. For example, use "there were many reasons" instead.

What is a better alternative to "there were that"?

Consider using phrases like "there were those", or rephrasing your sentence to use a more direct construction. The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is "there were that" grammatically correct?

No, "there were that" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. It lacks a clear noun or noun phrase to specify what "there were" refers to. Always ensure a noun follows "there were" for grammatical accuracy.

What does it mean if I see the phrase "there were that"?

If you encounter the phrase "there were that", it likely indicates a non-standard or informal usage of English. In formal writing and speech, it's better to use a grammatically complete alternative like "there were many". Or use alternatives like "there were those".