they were nice

USAGE SUMMARY

"they were nice" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when describing people, places, or things. For example, "My experience at the restaurant was excellent; the waitstaff were so friendly and they were nice."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They were nice boys.

The New Yorker

They were nice enough.

The New Yorker

"They were nice guys.

The New York Times

"They were nice people.

The New York Times

"They were nice about it".

The New York Times - Sports

JF They were nice dates.

The Guardian - Books

"They were nice, no trouble.

The New York Times

"They were nice," she said.

The New York Times

They were nice while they lasted.

The Economist

"They were nice and encouraging," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

"They were nice people," she said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they were nice" when you want to express a general positive sentiment about someone or something. For more specific praise, consider alternatives like "they were helpful", "they were generous", or "they were efficient".

Common error

Avoid relying solely on "they were nice" as your only descriptor. Vary your language to provide richer detail and avoid sounding repetitive. For instance, instead of saying "the servers were nice", try "the servers were attentive and efficient".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were nice" functions as a descriptive statement, typically used to express a positive impression or evaluation of individuals, objects, or experiences. Ludwig AI confirms it is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Science

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they were nice" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase for expressing a positive sentiment. Ludwig AI states that it's perfectly correct. It's commonly found in News & Media, Wiki, and Formal & Business contexts. While versatile, varying your descriptive language with alternatives like "they were pleasant" or "they were kind" can enhance clarity and impact. Be mindful of overuse to maintain engaging and vivid writing. Ludwig's examples showcase its broad applicability, from describing people to experiences.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were pleasant

Replaces "nice" with "pleasant", suggesting a pleasing or agreeable quality.

they were kind

Substitutes "nice" with "kind", emphasizing their benevolent nature.

they were agreeable

Changes "nice" to "agreeable", highlighting their cooperative or amenable behavior.

they were lovely

Uses "lovely" instead of "nice", adding a touch of warmth and affection.

they were delightful

Replaces "nice" with "delightful", expressing a higher degree of enjoyment or pleasure.

they were wonderful

Substitutes "nice" with "wonderful", indicating a high level of satisfaction or admiration.

they were charming

Uses "charming" instead of "nice", focusing on their attractive or pleasing qualities.

they were gracious

Changes "nice" to "gracious", suggesting politeness and courtesy.

they were good

A more general alternative, indicating that they met expectations or standards.

they were well-behaved

Focuses specifically on their conduct, implying they were polite and followed rules.

FAQs

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

You can use "they were nice" to describe people, experiences, or even objects. For example, "The people at the conference were very helpful; /s/they+were+nice to answer all my questions." or "/s/they+were+nice apartments, clean and well-maintained."

What are some alternatives to saying "they were nice"?

Depending on the specific context, you could use alternatives like "they were pleasant", "they were kind", or "they were lovely".

Is "they was nice" grammatically correct?

No, "they was nice" is not grammatically correct. The correct form is "they were nice", as "were" is the plural form of the past tense of the verb "to be".

When should I use "they are nice" instead of "they were nice"?

Use "they are nice" to describe someone or something in the present tense. Use "they were nice" to describe someone or something in the past tense. For example, "I like my neighbors, they are nice people" vs. "I liked my old neighbors, /s/they+were+nice people".