they were lovely

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "They were lovely" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a person, place, or thing. For example, "We just visited the Swiss Alps, and they were lovely."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Film

Opinion

Travel

Food

Science

Arts

Lifestyle

TV & Radio

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

Fortunately, they were lovely.

The New York Times - Style

They were lovely, really sweet.

The Guardian - Film

And they were lovely.

The Guardian - Film

Yeah, they were lovely.

The Guardian - Travel

"They were lovely," she said.

The New York Times - Food

They were lovely about it.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

"I love the Beatles, they're lovely people," he told the Los Angeles Times in 1968.

Los Angeles Times

They are lovely.

Cornell University

"They're lovely companions".

The New Yorker

But usually they're lovely".

The New York Times

They're lovely together.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they were lovely" to express genuine appreciation or enjoyment of something. It is suitable when recalling a positive experience or describing something favorably.

Common error

Avoid using "they were lovely" in highly formal or professional settings where a more sophisticated vocabulary is expected. Opt for alternatives like "they were delightful" or "they were magnificent" to maintain a professional tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were lovely" primarily functions as a descriptive expression, offering a positive evaluation or assessment of a subject. As confirmed by Ludwig, it's grammatically correct and widely usable. Examples show it describing flowers, people, times, and films, indicating broad applicability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Lifestyle

15%

Film

10%

Less common in

Opinion

5%

Arts

5%

Travel

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they were lovely" is a grammatically sound and versatile phrase used to express positive sentiments or appreciation. According to Ludwig, it's widely applicable across various contexts, though it is more suited to neutral or informal settings than highly formal ones. For such formal situations, alternative phrases like "they were delightful" or "they were magnificent" may be more appropriate. The phrase enjoys a very common frequency, as confirmed by the examples on Ludwig, with primary usage in News & Media, Lifestyle, and Film.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were marvellous

Replaces "lovely" with a stronger term for admiration.

they were sweet

Substitutes "lovely" with a more affectionate adjective.

they were terrific

Uses "terrific" to convey a sense of great approval.

they were gorgeous

Employs "gorgeous" to denote striking beauty or excellence.

they were pleasant

Replaces "lovely" with a milder term indicating enjoyment.

they were magnificent

Uses "magnificent" to suggest grandeur and impressiveness.

they were delightful

Substitutes "lovely" with a term suggesting great pleasure and charm.

they were splendid

Employs "splendid" to denote excellence and impressiveness.

they were handsome

Replaces "lovely" with a term to describe good looking.

they were wonderful

Substitutes "lovely" with "wonderful", expressing great satisfaction.

FAQs

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

You can use "they were lovely" to express a positive sentiment about something you experienced or observed. For instance, "The flowers at the garden party, /s/they+were+lovely/" or "The people we met on vacation, /s/they+were+lovely+"."

What are some alternatives to "they were lovely"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "they were delightful", "they were wonderful", or "they were pleasant".

Is "they were lovely" suitable for formal writing?

While grammatically correct, "they were lovely" might be considered informal for certain formal contexts. Consider using more sophisticated alternatives such as "they were splendid" or "they were magnificent".

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

"They were lovely" refers to something in the past, while "they are lovely" describes something in the present. For example, "The gifts /s/they+were+lovely/ (past)" versus "The gifts /s/they+are+lovely/ (present)".