they were building

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were building" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an ongoing action in the past, typically referring to construction or creation of something. Example: "They were building a new playground for the children in the neighborhood."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Construction

Software Development

Historical Events

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

55 human-written examples

"They were building something.

The New York Times

Turns out they were building something, too.

The New York Times - Sports

They were building a new country.

The Guardian - Opinion

Soon they were building a prototype.

The New York Times

"I was very happy they were building that plant here.

The New York Times

It turned out they were building a case".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

5 human-written examples

They're building something!

The New Yorker

They're building it now.

The New York Times

They're building relationships.

Yale University

They are building blocks of piety.

The New Yorker

They are building a democratic nation.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they were building" to describe an ongoing construction or development process in the past. It's appropriate for describing both physical structures and abstract concepts.

Common error

Avoid confusing "they were building" with "they're building". The former refers to a past action, while the latter refers to an action happening now. "They're building" is a contraction of "they are building."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were building" functions as a verb phrase indicating a past continuous action. It describes an ongoing process of construction or creation, as illustrated by Ludwig examples showing contexts from physical buildings to abstract concepts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Science

4%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they were building" is a versatile verb phrase used to describe an ongoing process of construction or creation in the past. Ludwig AI analysis confirms it's grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts, particularly in news and media. To enhance clarity and avoid grammatical errors, remember to use "they were building" for past continuous actions and distinguish it from "they're building" (they are building) which describes a present action. Its neutral register makes it suitable for both formal and informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were constructing

Uses a synonym for "building", implying a more formal tone.

they were creating

Emphasizes the act of bringing something new into existence, rather than just assembling it.

they were erecting

Similar to constructing but often used for larger structures like buildings or monuments.

they were assembling

Focuses on the act of putting parts together to form a whole.

they were engineering

Implies a careful, planned, and technical approach to building something.

they were developing

Highlights the process of growth and evolution, often used in the context of projects or software.

they were fabricating

Suggests the act of manufacturing or creating something from raw materials.

they were forming

Indicates the act of shaping or molding something into a particular form.

they were producing

Focuses on the outcome of the building process, emphasizing the finished product.

they were establishing

Implies the act of setting up or founding something, like an organization or institution.

FAQs

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

"They were building" is used to describe a continuous action of construction or development in the past. For example, "They were building a new school for the community".

What are some alternatives to "they were building"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "they were constructing", "they were creating", or "they were assembling".

What's the difference between "they were building" and "they are building"?

"They were building" describes an action that was in progress in the past, while "they are building" (or "they're building") describes an action that is currently in progress.

Is it correct to say "they was building" instead of "they were building"?

No, "they was building" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "they were building", as "were" is the plural past tense form of "to be" and is used with the pronoun "they".