they were enormous

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were enormous" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is very large in size or magnitude, often in a comparative context. Example: "The elephants at the zoo were enormous, dwarfing the other animals in their enclosure."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Lifestyle

Film

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

They were enormous," he said.

Independent

Rather, they were enormous and ostentatiously indulgent estates, usually built on a lakeside.

The Guardian - Travel

"They were enormous successes," said Laurence J. Kirshbaum, a literary agent and former publishing executive in New York.

The New York Times

They were all that moved in Toni, they were yellow like a lion in Mark, they were enormous in Kath.

The Guardian

Wide-legged palazzo pants were a trend at Emporio Armani, Gucci and Marni – where they were enormous.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The description of Hilary Swank's sister and mother in the script was that they were enormous, 300 pounds.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

And they are enormous.

The New York Times

He concedes they are enormous.

The New Yorker

But, as Wheeldon adds: "They are enormous shoes to fill".

The Guardian - Business

But to his students they are enormous gifts.

The New York Times - Sports

"I'm glad that you realize they are enormous," he wrote later that year.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Combine "they were enormous" with specific details to provide a clearer picture. For example, "They were enormous, each weighing over a ton."

Common error

While "they were enormous" is a valid phrase, overuse can make your writing monotonous. Vary your descriptions by using synonyms like "gigantic", "massive", or descriptive details to keep your prose engaging.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were enormous" primarily functions as a descriptive statement. It combines a plural pronoun ("they") with the past tense of the verb "to be" ("were") and an adjective ("enormous") to describe the size or scale of a previously mentioned subject. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

83%

Encyclopedias

4%

Science

4%

Less common in

Lifestyle

2%

Film

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they were enormous" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to describe something of substantial size or magnitude. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness. It's prevalent in news and media, with neutral formality, and serves to emphasize scale, often creating a sense of awe or significance. While effective, varying your descriptive language with synonyms like "gigantic" or "massive" can enhance your writing. "They were enormous" is best employed when you want to directly convey the impressive size of a subject.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were huge

Replaces "enormous" with a more common synonym, "huge", maintaining the same meaning but with a slightly less formal tone.

they were gigantic

Substitutes "enormous" with "gigantic", emphasizing the extreme size and impressiveness of the subject.

they were massive

Uses "massive" instead of "enormous", highlighting the great size and bulk of the objects or entities being described.

their size was considerable

Rephrases the sentence to focus on the size as a quality, replacing "enormous" with "considerable" to indicate a significant degree of size.

they were of great magnitude

Replaces the adjective with a more formal noun phrase, "of great magnitude", which emphasizes the scale or importance of something.

they reached an immense scale

Changes the structure to focus on the scale, using "immense" to denote the extremely large extent or degree.

they presented a grand scale

Emphasizes the impressive and imposing nature of the size, using "grand scale" to convey a sense of magnificence.

they were strikingly large

Adds an adverb to emphasize the unexpected or remarkable size, making the statement more emphatic.

they had remarkable dimensions

Shifts the focus to the dimensions, suggesting that the measurements were noteworthy or unusual.

they stood out because of their size

Rephrases the sentence to highlight that the size was a defining characteristic, making them noticeable or significant.

FAQs

What does "they were enormous" mean?

The phrase "they were enormous" means that the subjects being discussed were very large in size, scale, or degree.

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

You can use alternatives like "they were huge", "they were gigantic", or "they were massive" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "they were enormous"?

Yes, "they were enormous" is grammatically correct. It follows standard English sentence structure with a subject ("they"), a verb ("were"), and an adjective ("enormous").

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

You can use "they were enormous" to describe the size of physical objects, the scale of events, or the magnitude of abstract concepts. For example: "The dinosaurs at the museum, "they were enormous" and awe-inspiring."