we were consuming

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were consuming" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the act of using or ingesting something, typically food, resources, or information, in the past tense. Example: "During the meeting, we were consuming a lot of data to analyze the market trends."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

11 human-written examples

Thankfully, the food was so good that we weren't aware we were consuming less than 1,200 calories a day.

The New York Times

For years, before she finally tasted one, I drove my wife, Betsey, almost around the bend talking about mangosteens, telling her that whatever luxurious item we were consuming at a given moment was no match for my forbidden fruit.

The New York Times - Food

Our demand for water – not just the water we drank but the water we needed for food production and to make all the stuff we were consuming – was going through the roof.

The Guardian

"We were consuming 1.5 million barrels of Venezuelan oil each day that we're not getting now, which means we have to get it from someplace else," a senior State Department official said.

The New York Times

It was becoming clear to the world's scientific community that the accumulation of CO2, methane and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere – as a result of increasing agriculture, land use and the production, processing and transportation of everything we were consuming – was changing the climate.

The Guardian

How much more powerful would we feel if we were consuming products that look like us, pursuing candidates that look like us and speak like us?" Through pop culture, Miranda-Rodriguez said he hoped to get a message out about a current crisis and a long history of unspoken abuse.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

Similarly, he says, "When we watch, buy, consume Madonna, we're consuming Madonna from the early '80s," a nubile and irreverent 20-something.

Forbes

When there is a peak, the hot water heaters go off, we are consuming electricity from car batteries of consumers.

Forbes

When we should be producing, we are consuming.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

We are consuming more natural resources, more energy.

The Guardian

In short, we're consuming water, like food, at a rate that is completely unsustainable.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing the use of resources or energy, consider the specific nuance you want to convey. "We were consuming" is suitable for general usage, but more precise verbs like "utilizing", "ingesting", or "expending" can add clarity.

Common error

While "consuming" is versatile, overuse can make writing sound monotonous. Vary your vocabulary with synonyms like "utilizing", "expending", or more specific verbs depending on the context to improve readability.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were consuming" functions as a verb phrase in the past continuous tense. Ludwig shows its use in describing ongoing actions of using resources, food, or information. It focuses on the process rather than a completed action.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "we were consuming" is a grammatically correct and commonly used verb phrase in the past continuous tense. As demonstrated by Ludwig, it's frequently used in news and media to describe ongoing actions of using resources, food, or information. While versatile, varying your vocabulary with synonyms is advised to prevent overuse. The analysis indicates a neutral register, making it suitable for a wide range of writing contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we had been eating

Changes the verb to "eating", emphasizing the act of eating food.

we had been using

Replaces "consuming" with "using", focusing on the utilization of resources or objects.

we ingested

Uses a more formal verb, "ingested", mainly referring to food or medicine.

we utilized

Replaces "consuming" with "utilized", emphasizing the practical application of something.

we were taking in

Uses the phrasal verb "taking in", which can refer to absorbing information or nutrients.

we were devouring

Replaces "consuming" with "devouring", emphasizing eating something quickly and enthusiastically.

our consumption included

Reformulates the sentence to focus on "consumption" as a noun.

we depended on

Emphasizes reliance on a resource rather than the act of consuming it.

we were expending

Focuses on the action of using up resources or energy.

we partook of

Uses a more formal and somewhat archaic phrase for "consuming".

FAQs

How can I use "we were consuming" in a sentence?

The phrase "we were consuming" is used to describe the act of using or ingesting something in the past. For example, "We were consuming a lot of electricity during the summer months."

What can I say instead of "we were consuming"?

You can use alternatives like "we were using", "we were eating", or "we were utilizing depending" on the context.

Is it correct to say "we was consuming" instead of "we were consuming"?

No, "we was consuming" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "we were consuming" because "were" is the past tense form of "to be" that agrees with the plural pronoun "we".

What's the difference between "we were consuming" and "we consumed"?

"We were consuming" implies a continuous action in the past, while "we consumed" indicates a completed action. For example, "we were consuming resources rapidly" suggests an ongoing process, whereas "we consumed all the resources" indicates it's finished.