they were took

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they were took" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form would be "they were taken." Example: "They were taken to the station for questioning."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Most people now accept that the historical argument for racial preference no longer adds up to much: slavery and Jim Crow, ghastly though they were, took place too long ago to justify, say, rejecting a poor white kid in order to let in a rich black one.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

They were taken seriously.

The New York Times - Arts

"They were taking a risk".

The New York Times

They were taken to Lutheran Medical Center.

The New York Times

They were taken in.

The Guardian - Business

They were taken out.

The Guardian

"They knew the risk they were taking".

The New Yorker

They acknowledged the risks they were taking.

The Guardian

They were taking mediocre swings at it.

The New York Times - Sports

"They were taken under fire," he said.

The New York Times

At four, they were taking lessons themselves.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct past participle form of the verb "take", which is "taken", in passive constructions. The phrase should be "they were taken".

Common error

Avoid using the past tense form "took" when the past participle "taken" is required in passive voice constructions. "They were took" is grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "they were taken".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they were took" attempts to function as a passive construction, indicating that someone or something received an action. However, the incorrect past participle renders it grammatically invalid. The correct form is "they were taken". Ludwig AI indicates this discrepancy.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Social Media

0%

Academia

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "they were took" is a grammatically incorrect construction. The proper passive voice requires the past participle "taken", making "they were taken" the accurate form. Ludwig AI identifies this as an error. While some occurrences can be found, it's best to avoid "they were took" in favor of "they were taken" or alternative phrases like "they were captured" to ensure clarity and grammatical correctness across various contexts. Using the accurate form enhances communication and maintains credibility, especially in formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they were captured

Replaces "took" with a synonym that maintains the passive voice and implies being seized or caught.

they were seized

Indicates being taken forcefully or officially.

they were apprehended

Similar to "captured" but suggests a more formal or legal context.

they were arrested

Specifically implies being taken into police custody.

they were escorted

Suggests being accompanied or guided, often under supervision.

they were removed

Implies being taken away from a place or situation.

they were conveyed

A more formal synonym for "transported", suggesting careful or official handling.

they were transported

Focuses on the act of being moved from one location to another.

they were led

A simpler alternative to "guided", implying direction or control.

they were guided

Suggests being led or directed to a specific location or outcome.

FAQs

What is the correct form, "they were took" or "they were taken"?

The correct form is "they were taken". "They were took" is grammatically incorrect because "took" is the simple past tense, while "taken" is the past participle needed for passive voice constructions.

How do I use "they were taken" in a sentence?

Use "they were taken" to indicate that someone or something was moved, captured, or received in the past. For example: "They were taken to the hospital after the accident."

What are some alternatives to "they were taken"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "they were captured", "they were arrested", or "they were seized".

Is "they were took" ever considered acceptable in informal speech?

While you might encounter "they were took" in some dialects or very informal speech, it is generally not considered standard English and should be avoided in formal writing or speaking. It is always better to use the grammatically correct form, "they were taken".