they arrived

USAGE SUMMARY

"they arrived" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used as a standalone sentence or as part of a larger sentence. Example 1 (standalone sentence): They arrived at the airport just in time to catch their flight. Example 2 (part of a larger sentence): After a long and tiring journey, they finally arrived at their destination.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

THEY arrived separately but walked out together.

The Economist

Moments later, they arrived.

The New York Times

They arrived with nothing.

Independent

They arrived in February.

The New York Times

They arrived last month.

The New York Times

They arrived late.

The New Yorker

They arrived in different ways.

The New York Times - Sports

Why haven't they arrived yet?

Independent

They arrived here seeking credibility.

The New York Times - Sports

They arrived in early fall.

The New York Times

They arrived smouldering.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they arrived" when you want to clearly and directly state that a group of people or entities reached a specific location or point in time. It is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid using incorrect tenses with "they arrived". Ensure the tense aligns with the context of your sentence. For example, don't use "they will arrived"; instead, use "they will arrive".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they arrived" primarily functions as a simple past tense verb phrase, indicating that a group of people or things completed the action of reaching a destination. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating this direct and straightforward usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Wiki

7%

Science

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they arrived" is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase to denote the action of reaching a destination or appearing at a certain place. Ludwig highlights its prevalence in news and media, as well as its neutral register, making it suitable for various contexts. While alternatives like "they got here" or "they showed up" exist, "they arrived" remains a straightforward and widely accepted option. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase follows standard grammar rules.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they got here

Simple substitution of "arrived" with "got here" maintains the core meaning of reaching a place.

they reached their destination

More explicit, specifying that a destination was reached, adding detail.

they showed up

Informal alternative, implying appearance rather than necessarily reaching a specific location.

they turned up

Similar to "showed up" but with a slightly more casual connotation.

they made it

Implies overcoming some difficulty in reaching the destination.

they came

A very general alternative, less specific about reaching a destination.

they were present

More formal, indicating their presence at a particular place or event.

they materialized

Suggests a sudden or unexpected appearance.

they surfaced

Implies emerging from a hidden or unknown location.

they clocked in

Specific to arriving at a workplace or similar setting.

FAQs

How can I use "they arrived" in a sentence?

You can use "they arrived" to indicate the reaching of a destination, such as, "They arrived at the station on time" or to indicate an appearance, such as, "They arrived late to the party".

What are some alternatives to "they arrived"?

Alternatives include "they got here", "they showed up", or "they reached their destination" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "they have arrived" instead of "they arrived"?

Both are correct, but "they have arrived" is in the present perfect tense, implying the action has relevance to the present, whereas "they arrived" is in the simple past tense, simply stating the action occurred in the past.

Can "they arrived" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "they arrived" is suitable for formal writing. However, consider the specific context and whether a more formal synonym like "they were present" might be more appropriate.