they were being

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were being" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe an ongoing action or state that is happening to a subject in the past. Example: "They were being very helpful during the project, always ready to lend a hand."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"They were being innovative".

The New York Times

"They were being ignored".

The New York Times

They were being fouled, manhandled.

Independent

They were being given away.

The New York Times - Arts

They were being evicted.

The New York Times

They were being bypassed.

The Guardian - Opinion

They were being IRONIC.

The Guardian - Books

They were being questioned.

The New York Times

Fernando said they were being cheated.

The New Yorker

Some say they were being shot".

The New York Times

They were being managed by the authorities.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they were being" to describe ongoing actions or states in the past, ensuring the verb that follows accurately reflects the intended meaning. For example, "They were being helpful" indicates an ongoing state of helpfulness.

Common error

Avoid using "they were being" with stative verbs (e.g., know, believe) that describe states rather than actions. It's incorrect to say "They were being knowing about the situation"; instead, say "They knew about the situation".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were being" functions as part of a verb phrase in the past continuous tense. This structure typically describes an ongoing action or state experienced by a group of people at a specific time in the past. Ludwig provides many examples of the phrase used this way.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

97%

Encyclopedias

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they were being" is a grammatically sound and frequently used construction in English, primarily functioning as part of a verb phrase in the past continuous tense. As confirmed by Ludwig, it effectively describes ongoing actions, behaviors, or states experienced by a group in the past. The register is generally neutral, making it appropriate for diverse contexts, especially in News & Media. While versatile, avoid using it with stative verbs. Remember to use "they were" for past states and "they were being" for actions that were in progress.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were undergoing

Similar meaning, with emphasis on the process itself.

they had been

Indicates a completed action or state before a specific point in the past, versus an ongoing action.

they happened to be

Emphasizes the coincidental nature of their state or action.

they were in the process of

Rephrases the phrase to emphasize the ongoing nature of their action.

they found themselves

Highlights the unexpected or unintentional aspect of their situation.

they experienced

Focuses on the experience they underwent, rather than the specific action.

they underwent

Highlights that they were subjected to a certain process.

they became

Indicates a transformation or change in their state.

they endured

Focuses on the challenges or hardships they faced.

they were subjected to

Highlights that they were forced to endure a certain process.

FAQs

How do I use "they were being" in a sentence?

Use "they were being" to describe an ongoing action or a temporary state in the past. For example, "They were being disruptive during the meeting" indicates that their disruptive behavior was ongoing at that time.

What are some alternatives to "they were being"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "they acted", "they behaved", or "they seemed". For example, instead of "They were being secretive", you could say "they acted secretive".

Is "they were being" grammatically correct?

Yes, "they were being" is grammatically correct. It's the past continuous form of the verb "to be" and is used to describe actions or states that were in progress at a specific time in the past.

What's the difference between "they were" and "they were being"?

"They were" describes a state or a completed action in the past (e.g., "They were tired"), while "they were being" describes an ongoing action or a temporary state (e.g., "They were being considerate").