they were brought

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence 'they were brought' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that someone or something was moved from one place to another. For example: "The refugees were brought to safety by the search and rescue team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They were brought up differently.

The New Yorker

They were brought for that purpose.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

They were brought up that way.

The Guardian

points in detail since they were brought up in detail.

Yale University

They were brought together and bonded by their wounds.

The New Yorker

It was the way they were brought up.

Independent

I suppose it's the way they were brought up".

The New Yorker

They were brought together by the singer Nat "King" Cole.

The Washington Post

"It's fascinating that they were brought from somewhere else".

The New York Times

They were brought in to add fire, muscle and mayhem.

The New York Times - Sports

"With technology, they were brought home," Ms. Norton said.

The New York Times - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they were brought" to emphasize the action of bringing something or someone, especially when the agent performing the action is less important or unknown.

Common error

Avoid using "they were brought" without a clear antecedent for 'they'. Ensure the reader knows exactly who or what is being referred to to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were brought" functions as a passive voice construction. This grammatical structure shifts the focus to the recipients or objects of an action rather than the agent performing it. Ludwig confirms this usage, showcasing numerous instances where the emphasis lies on what happened to 'they'.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Science

28%

Academia

14%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they were brought" is a very common and grammatically sound phrase used to indicate that a group or items were moved or introduced by an unspecified or less emphasized agent. According to Ludwig, it is employed in a passive voice to highlight the recipients or objects of the action. The phrase exhibits a neutral register, making it suitable for diverse contexts, including news, academia, and general communication. While versatile, it's crucial to ensure clarity by providing a clear antecedent for 'they' to avoid ambiguity. Consider alternatives like "they were transported" or "they were introduced" to fine-tune the meaning to your specific needs.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were transported

Focuses on the act of moving something or someone from one location to another.

they were introduced

Emphasizes the act of presenting or making something/someone known for the first time.

they were carried

Highlights the physical act of bearing or supporting something during movement.

they were conveyed

Implies the transmission of information or goods from one place to another.

they were escorted

Suggests a guided or protected movement from one location to another.

they were ushered

Implies a formal or ceremonial guidance to a specific place.

they were delivered

Focuses on the act of bringing something to a final destination.

they were imported

Highlights the bringing of goods or ideas from a foreign country.

they were instilled

Emphasizes the introduction of values, beliefs, or ideas into someone's mind.

they were subjected

Suggests being exposed to something, often negative or unwanted.

FAQs

How can I use "they were brought" in a sentence?

The phrase "they were brought" indicates that a group or items were moved from one place to another. For example, "They were brought to the hospital after the accident" shows transportation to a medical facility.

What are some alternatives to using "they were brought"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "they were transported", "they were introduced", or "they were delivered".

Is it more formal to say "they were brought" or "they were transported"?

"They were transported" generally sounds more formal and technical, while "they were brought" is more common and neutral. The choice depends on the context and audience.

What is the difference between "they were brought" and "they arrived"?

"They were brought" implies an external agent caused their arrival, while "they arrived" simply states they reached a destination without specifying how or by whom.