they gathered

USAGE SUMMARY

"they gathered" is a correctly formed and usable sentence in written English.
It is a verb phrase that typically implies that a group of people have come together to meet at one location. For example, "The townspeople gathered in the town square to listen to the mayor's speech."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

They gathered sticks and rocks.

The New York Times

How were they gathered?

The Guardian

They gathered to do two things.

The Economist

They gathered plants and wove baskets".

The New York Times - Arts

They gathered string in 500 interviews.

The New York Times

They gathered 10,000 signatures.

The New York Times - Magazine

For years, they gathered in secret.

The Guardian

MOSCOW — It is unclear why they gathered.

The New York Times

They gathered outside chanting, "E-D-L!

The Guardian

They gathered under the jacaranda tree.

The New Yorker

They gathered the settler's descendants in a church.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they gathered" when describing a group of people coming together in a specific location or for a shared purpose. Ensure the context clearly indicates who "they" refers to.

Common error

Avoid using "they gathered" without clearly establishing who "they" refers to. Ambiguous pronoun references can confuse readers. Ensure the antecedent is clear within the sentence or preceding sentences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they gathered" functions as a simple past tense verb phrase, indicating that a group of individuals came together at a particular time. Ludwig examples illustrate its use in various contexts such as news reports and personal narratives. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science

5%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they gathered" is a common and grammatically sound expression used to describe a group of people coming together. As Ludwig AI confirms, it adheres to standard English grammar and is suitable for various contexts, particularly in news and media. While alternatives like "they assembled" or "they congregated" exist, the simplicity and widespread use of "they gathered" make it a versatile choice. Remember to ensure clarity in pronoun reference to avoid ambiguity. "They gathered" generally functions as a past tense reporting of an event.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they assembled

This alternative emphasizes a more formal or organized coming together.

they convened

This implies a scheduled or official meeting.

they congregated

This suggests a spontaneous gathering, often in a public space.

they met

This is a simpler and more general term for coming together.

they rallied

This implies gathering for a common cause or purpose.

they flocked

Suggests a large group coming together, often enthusiastically.

they amassed

This highlights the large number of people who gathered.

they converged

This suggests people coming from different directions to a single point.

they accumulated

This emphasizes the gradual increase in number of those gathering.

they clustered

This implies a close grouping together.

FAQs

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

The phrase "they gathered" indicates a group of people coming together. For example, "They gathered at the town hall to discuss the new regulations."

What are some alternatives to "they gathered"?

You can use alternatives like "they assembled", "they congregated", or "they met" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "they gather" instead of "they gathered"?

Yes, "they gather" is correct, but it uses the present tense, implying a recurring or habitual action, while "they gathered" is in the past tense, referring to a specific instance in the past.

What's the difference between "they gathered" and "they collected"?

"They gathered" implies people coming together in a place, while "they collected" suggests accumulating objects or items. The phrases are not interchangeable: for example, "They gathered at the park" is different from "They collected seashells".