they were doing

USAGE SUMMARY

'they were doing' is a grammatically correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It is used to refer to an ongoing action or activities in the past. For example: "When I saw them, they were doing their homework together."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

"They were doing studies.

The New York Times - Science

They were doing both.

The New Yorker

"They were doing construction.

The New York Times

"They were doing different things.

The New Yorker

They were doing God's work.

The New Yorker

"They were doing it themselves".

The New York Times

They were doing 'theatre'theatre

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

They were done.

The New Yorker

They were done fifteen years ago.

Forbes

They are doing better".

The New York Times

They're doing it".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they were doing" to describe ongoing actions or activities performed by a group in the past. Ensure the context clearly identifies who "they" refers to.

Common error

Avoid using "they were doing" without a clear antecedent for "they". Ensure the reader knows exactly who is being referred to; otherwise, rephrase to specify the group or individuals.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were doing" functions as a past continuous verb phrase. It describes an ongoing action or activity that a group of people was engaged in at a specific time in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable grammatical structure.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they were doing" is a versatile and commonly used past continuous verb phrase that describes ongoing actions by a group in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and wide applicability. It is most frequently found in News & Media, but also appears in Science and Formal & Business contexts. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by providing a clear antecedent for "they" to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives include "they were performing", "they were engaged in", and "they were working on", offering nuanced ways to express similar meanings. Mastering "they were doing" enhances clarity and expressiveness in various writing and speaking scenarios.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were working on

Specifies that they were actively involved in a task or project that is in progress.

they were performing

Substitutes "doing" with "performing", suggesting a task or action carried out, often with a specific skill or purpose.

they were in the process of

Emphasizes that the action was ongoing and not yet completed.

they engaged in

Replaces "doing" with the more formal "engaged in", implying a deliberate participation in an activity.

they were undertaking

Uses "undertaking" instead of "doing", indicating a project or task that is being carried out.

they were conducting

Replaces "doing" with "conducting", implying a more formal or organized activity, like a study or experiment.

they carried out

Replaces the continuous tense with a simple past, emphasizing the completion of an action.

they were occupied with

Indicates that their time and attention were focused on a specific activity.

they busied themselves with

Suggests that they were actively keeping themselves busy with something.

they devoted themselves to

Indicates a strong commitment and dedication to the activity they were performing.

FAQs

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

You can use "they were doing" to describe an ongoing action in the past involving a group of people. For example, "When I arrived, "they were doing" their homework".

What can I say instead of "they were doing"?

You can use alternatives like "they were performing", "they were engaged in", or "they were working on" depending on the context.

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

No, "they was doing" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is ""they were doing"", as "they" is a plural pronoun and requires the plural form of the verb "to be" (were).

What's the difference between "they were doing" and "they did"?

"They were doing" describes an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past, while "they did" describes a completed action in the past. For example, "They were doing laundry when I called" implies the laundry was in progress. "They did laundry yesterday" indicates it's finished.