they were existed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were existed" is not correct in English.
The correct form would be "they existed" or "they were in existence." Example: "In ancient times, they existed as a powerful civilization."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

And Mr. Hiddleston and Mr. Beale, disciplined and sensitive actors though they are, exist in the penumbra of Ms. Weisz's incandescence.

The New York Times

No evidence that they were animals exists.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Audiences no longer really believe that what they're seeing exists anymore.

The Guardian - Film

Though witches existed, they were rare.

The New Yorker

Where the right laws existed, they were hard to enforce.

The Economist

If sinus radiographs existed they were recorded.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

"Even when laws existed, they were not very rigorously followed.

Forbes

They were people before you existed.

Vice

But they existed, and they were not without utility.

TechCrunch

The point is they existed.

The New York Times

Rather, they are similar to what existed under Clinton.

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct form "they existed" instead of the grammatically incorrect "they were existed".

Common error

Avoid using the auxiliary verb "were" with "existed" because "existed" already implies a state of being in the past. Saying "they were existed" is redundant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were existed" attempts to assert the past presence or reality of a subject. However, it is grammatically incorrect as Ludwig AI confirms, because the verb "existed" already carries the past tense, making the auxiliary verb "were" redundant.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Encyclopedias

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Wiki

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Reference

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "they were existed" is grammatically incorrect. The correct way to express this idea is to use "they existed". According to Ludwig AI, the incorrect usage stems from the redundant use of the auxiliary verb "were" with "existed", as the latter already implies past tense. While the intention is to convey past presence or reality, it is essential to avoid this construction in formal writing. Consider alternatives like "they were present" or "they were in existence" for more formal contexts. Because of its ungrammatical nature, "they were existed" is absent from authoritative sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they existed

This is the grammatically correct form of the original phrase, removing the unnecessary "were".

they were in existence

This alternative uses a more formal construction to express that something was present or real.

they were present

This phrase indicates that they were at a particular place or time.

they were living

This suggests that they were alive and functioning.

they had presence

This emphasizes their impact or influence.

they could be found

This indicates the possibility of locating or discovering them.

they could be seen

This refers to their visibility or observability.

they were real

This confirms their authenticity or genuineness.

they were around

This implies their accessibility or availability.

they were manifest

This denotes that they were clearly apparent or evident.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "they were existed"?

The correct way to express this idea is to say "they existed". The auxiliary verb "were" is unnecessary and grammatically incorrect in this context.

Can I use "they were being" instead of "they were existed"?

While "they were being" is grammatically correct, it has a different meaning. It suggests that they were in the process of 'being' something or acting in a certain way, rather than simply existing. For example: "they were being kind".

What does it mean when something "existed"?

When something "existed", it means it was present, real, or occurred at some point in time. It implies a state of being in the past. For example, "Dinosaurs existed millions of years ago".

Are there other ways to express the idea of something existing in the past?

Yes, you can use phrases like "they were present", "they were around", or "they were in existence", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.