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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak quote

Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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we were able to make

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were able to make" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it when you are describing a successful accomplishment or task. For example, "We were able to make a significant contribution to the community."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We were able to make sensible guesses pretty quickly.

Check out some things we were able to make below!

And we were able to make some changes.

We were able to make their important players disappear.

We were able to make some big plays".

"We were able to make all of the identifications".

But we were able to make the big pitch tonight".

"But we were able to make a contribution.

News & Media

The New York Times

Reservations are essential but we were able to make ours as soon as we got there.

This was the last coherent decision we were able to make for the next 48 hours.

But we were able to make the film we wanted to make.

News & Media

The Guardian
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we were able to make" to clearly communicate successful completion of a task, emphasizing capability and positive results.

Common error

Avoid overuse of passive voice constructions when using "we were able to make". Instead of saying "the decision was able to be made by us", opt for the more direct "we were able to make the decision".

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

88%

Authority and reliability

4.6/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were able to make" functions as a verbal phrase indicating the successful completion of an action or the achievement of a specific result. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage, as shown by the numerous examples across diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Academia

25%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "we were able to make" is a versatile and grammatically sound way to express the successful completion of an action or the achievement of a specific result. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and common usage across various contexts, especially in news, academic, and scientific writing. When using this phrase, focus on clarity and ensure that the accomplishment is clearly stated. While alternatives exist, "we were able to make" provides a direct and effective way to communicate positive outcomes and demonstrate capability.

More alternative expressions(6)

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

FAQs

How can I use "we were able to make" in a sentence?

Use "we were able to make" to describe a successful action or accomplishment, for example, "We were able to make significant progress on the project".

What phrases are similar to "we were able to make"?

Alternatives include "we managed to create", "we succeeded in producing", or "we achieved in developing", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "we were able to made"?

No, "we were able to made" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "we were able to make", as the "to" requires the base form of the verb.

What's the difference between "we were able to make" and "we could make"?

"We were able to make" implies that a specific successful action occurred, while "we could make" suggests a general ability or possibility. For example, "We were able to make the deadline" indicates success, whereas "We could make the deadline if we worked overtime" suggests a possibility.

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Source & Trust

88%

Authority and reliability

4.6/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: