was being played

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'was being played' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to an ongoing, progressive action or event that was ongoing at a specified moment in the past. For example: "At the time of the accident, a game of football was being played on the field."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Literature

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

And baseball was being played.

The New York Times

The tournament was being played in Italy.

The New Yorker

It was a game that was being played.

The New York Times - Sports

A much darker story, he discovers, was being played out.

The New York Times - Books

Except this was being played out in a normal situation".

The New York Times - Sports

Or maybe he was being played for a dope.

The New York Times

"White kids walked off the dancefloor whenever black music was being played.

Independent

The angst of Canada was being played out in front of me.

The New York Times - Sports

A few months later, the Drake remix of "Tuesday" was being played all over the world.

The New Yorker

Under the 1864 rules by which the game was being played, the batter was out.

The New York Times

It was utterly unclear whether or not it was being played for laughs.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing events or games, use "was being played" to emphasize the action happening over a period of time. For example, "The symphony was being played as the audience entered the hall."

Common error

Ensure you're not using "was being played" when an active voice construction is more appropriate or direct. For example, instead of "The music was being played by the band" use "The band played the music."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was being played" functions as a passive progressive verb construction, indicating an ongoing action in the past. This usage aligns with the Ludwig AI's assessment that it is correct and usable in written English. It signifies that something was in the process of happening at a specific point in time.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Sports

25%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was being played" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive progressive construction. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for describing actions that were underway in the past. This phrase appears most often in news, sports, and literary contexts, reflecting its utility in setting scenes and providing context. While grammatically correct, writers should be mindful of instances where an active voice might be more direct and impactful. Consider alternatives like "was in progress" or "was underway" for brevity, but retain "was being played" when emphasizing the ongoing nature of the action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was in the process of being played

Emphasizes the ongoing nature of the action more explicitly.

was actively being played

Highlights the active involvement or engagement in the action.

was underway

A more concise way of saying something was happening.

was in progress

Similar to 'was underway' but slightly more formal.

was being enacted

Suggests a more formal or deliberate performance or event.

was being performed

Focuses on the act of performing something, like a play or music.

featured

Focuses on the fact something was part of the event

was taking place

Indicates that an event was happening at a specific location or time.

was unfolding

Suggests a gradual revelation or development of events.

happened

This is a simple way of saying that an event occurred at some point in the past.

FAQs

How can I use "was being played" in a sentence?

Use "was being played" to describe an ongoing action in the past. For instance, "The music "was being played" when I arrived."

What are some alternatives to "was being played"?

Consider alternatives such as "was in progress", "was underway", or "was being performed" depending on the specific context.

Is "was being played" grammatically correct?

Yes, "was being played" is grammatically correct. It is the past progressive passive form of the verb 'play', indicating an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past.

What's the difference between "was played" and "was being played"?

"Was played" indicates a completed action in the past, while "was being played" indicates an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past. For example, "The song was played" (it finished) versus "The song "was being played"" (it was happening at a particular moment).