they were suffering

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were suffering" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a state of distress or hardship experienced by individuals or groups in various contexts, such as emotional, physical, or situational suffering. Example: "During the harsh winter, they were suffering from the cold and lack of food."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

They were suffering".

The New Yorker

"I was ill – they were suffering".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

People were hungry, they were suffering.

The New York Times

They were suffering from the Sabbath.

The New York Times - Magazine

Many people thought they were suffering alone.

The New York Times - Tech

The elderly could often not walk any more, they were suffering so badly.

The Guardian

They were suffering from the bombing and hadn't been fed regularly since the war began.

The New York Times - Magazine

Peer support groups can also connect people who previously thought they were suffering alone.

The Guardian

It was often hard to tell what they were suffering from.

The New Yorker

They were suffering from depression, panic attacks and insomnia, and were self-harming.

The Guardian

"They were suffering from severe burns - some of them covered by more than 40 per cent.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing past events, ensure that the tense remains consistent throughout the sentence to maintain clarity and avoid confusion. For instance, "They faced numerous obstacles and they were suffering severe setbacks" maintains a consistent past tense.

Common error

Avoid shifting tenses unexpectedly within a sentence or paragraph. For example, incorrectly mixing past and present continuous tenses such as "They struggled for days, and now they were suffering from exhaustion" can disrupt the flow. Instead, keep the tense consistent: "They struggled for days and they were suffering from exhaustion."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were suffering" primarily functions as a verbal phrase in the past continuous tense. It describes a state of ongoing distress or hardship experienced by a group of individuals. As Ludwig AI shows, this phrase is commonly used to depict situations where people faced prolonged adversity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

35%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they were suffering" is a grammatically sound and commonly used verbal phrase in the past continuous tense, employed to depict an ongoing state of distress or hardship experienced by a group. As noted by Ludwig AI, its primary function is to convey empathy and inform about the severity of a situation in neutral register. This phrase appears most frequently in News & Media, followed by Science. When using "they were suffering", ensure tense consistency and consider alternatives like ""they were in distress"" or ""they were experiencing hardship"" to enhance clarity and impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were in distress

Focuses directly on the state of distress, offering a more general term for suffering.

they were experiencing hardship

Highlights the difficult conditions or circumstances causing suffering.

they were enduring pain

Emphasizes the act of bearing or tolerating pain, whether physical or emotional.

they were going through a difficult time

Refers to a period of hardship, shifting focus from the suffering itself to the timeframe.

they were facing adversity

Highlights the challenges and obstacles contributing to their suffering.

they were in agony

Intensifies the degree of suffering, suggesting extreme physical or mental pain.

they were laboring under duress

Emphasizes the pressure and stress contributing to their difficult situation.

they were under immense pressure

Stresses the weight of burdens or stressors leading to their suffering.

they were having a tough time

Offers an informal way to describe a period of difficulty and suffering.

they were feeling the strain

Focuses on the effects of stress and pressure, implying that they are suffering as a result.

FAQs

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

Use "they were suffering" to describe a state of distress or hardship experienced by a group of people in the past. For example: "Because of the drought, "they were suffering" from hunger and dehydration".

What are some alternatives to "they were suffering"?

You can use alternatives like "they were in distress", "they were experiencing hardship", or "they were enduring pain" depending on the specific context.

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

Yes, "they were suffering" is grammatically correct. It uses the past continuous tense of the verb "suffer" to describe an ongoing state of distress in the past.

What is the difference between "they suffered" and "they were suffering"?

"They suffered" indicates a completed action in the past, while "they were suffering" indicates a state of suffering that was ongoing over a period of time in the past. For example, "they suffered losses" implies that the losses are complete, while ""they were suffering" losses" suggests that the losses were happening over a duration.