they were great

USAGE SUMMARY

"they were great" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a positive experience in the past. For example: We were so impressed by the performance of the band, they were great.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

They were great volumes.

The New York Times

They were great kids.

The New Yorker

I thought they were great".

The New York Times - Sports

They were great with me".

Independent

They were great scenes.

The Guardian - Sport

They were great games.

The New York Times - Sports

They were great, man.

The Guardian - Music

They were great readers.

The New York Times - Books

They were great times".

The Guardian - Music

But they were great times.

The Guardian - Sport

Oh yeah, they were great.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the audience and context when choosing synonyms for "great". "Excellent" or "superb" may be more appropriate in formal settings, while "fantastic" or "amazing" are suitable for informal communication.

Common error

Avoid using "they were great" without a clear antecedent for "they". Ensure your sentence or preceding sentences make it obvious who or what you are referring to, to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were great" serves as a subject complement, providing information about the subject (they). As Ludwig AI indicates, it's a grammatically correct and usable phrase for expressing positive sentiments.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they were great" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase for expressing positive opinions or experiences. As Ludwig AI confirms, its correctness and widespread usage make it a reliable choice in various contexts. Primarily found in news and media, this phrase serves as a versatile tool for indicating satisfaction or approval. To ensure clarity, make sure that the referent of 'they' is unambiguous. You can choose synonyms like "they were excellent" or "they were amazing" to increase or decrease the intensity of the expression or the formality of the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were excellent

Replaces "great" with a synonym that emphasizes high quality.

they were fantastic

Offers a more enthusiastic and expressive alternative to "great".

they were wonderful

Conveys a sense of delight and pleasure, similar to "great".

they were amazing

Emphasizes the impressive and remarkable nature of what is being described.

they were superb

A more formal and sophisticated synonym for "great".

they were remarkable

Highlights the noteworthy and exceptional qualities.

they were outstanding

Indicates that something surpassed expectations and was exceptionally good.

they were impressive

Focuses on the quality of making a strong, positive impact.

they were exceptional

Stresses that something deviates from the norm in a positive way.

they were first-rate

Uses an idiom to suggest the highest standard of quality.

FAQs

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

You can use "they were great" to express satisfaction or approval of something that happened in the past. For example, "The actors in the play were phenomenal, "they were great"!"

What's a more formal way to say "they were great"?

In a formal setting, you could use phrases like "they were excellent" or "they were superb" to convey a similar meaning with a more sophisticated tone.

What are some alternatives to "they were great" for expressing enthusiasm?

If you want to show more enthusiasm, you could say "they were amazing", "they were fantastic", or "they were wonderful".

Is it always clear who "they" refers to when using "they were great"?

No, it's crucial to ensure that the context makes it clear who or what "they" refers to. Without a clear reference, the sentence can be confusing. For example, instead of ""they were great"", specify "The musicians were great".