we were driving

USAGE SUMMARY

'we were driving' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe the action someone was performing in the past. For example: "We were driving down the highway when we passed by a strange looking house."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

WE were driving back to Boston on Wednesday night from the latest United States soccer victory.

The New York Times - Sports

We were driving ourselves.

The New Yorker

"We were driving fast.

The New York Times - Sports

"We were driving business growth.

The New York Times

We were driving back to New Jersey.

The New York Times

We were driving on the outskirts of San Francisco.

The New York Times - Magazine

It was already seven-ten when we were driving again.

The New Yorker

One minute we were driving along, the next we weren't".

The Guardian - Money

"We were driving and it was 0-0," Fiedler said.

The New York Times - Sports

We were driving through Bailey-Delavan on a spring day.

The New Yorker

We were driving northwest, right into a spring storm.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we were driving" to describe an ongoing action in the past, often interrupted by another event. For example, "We were driving home when it started to rain."

Common error

Avoid using "we were driving" if you want to express a single, completed action in the past. In that case, use the simple past tense: "We drove."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were driving" functions as a verb phrase in the past continuous tense, indicating an action in progress in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and appropriate for use in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "we were driving" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to describe an action in progress in the past. Ludwig AI validates this, confirming its suitability for written English. It is most frequently found in news and media contexts. When using this phrase, ensure it accurately reflects an ongoing action, and consider alternatives like "we drove" or "we were travelling by car" for completed actions or different emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we drove

Simple past tense, indicating a completed action of driving.

we were travelling by car

More descriptive, emphasizing the mode of transportation.

we were on the road

Focuses on the journey itself, rather than the act of driving.

we took a drive

Highlights the leisure aspect of driving.

we motored along

A more old-fashioned or whimsical way of saying "we were driving".

we were riding

Implies being passengers in a vehicle that may or may not be a car.

we made our way by car

Emphasizes the effort to travel.

we were heading

Focuses on the direction of travel, rather than the act of driving.

we navigated

Highlights the act of finding the way.

we journeyed by automobile

A formal and somewhat archaic way of saying "we were driving".

FAQs

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

Use "we were driving" to describe an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past. For example, "We were driving to the beach when we saw the accident."

What is a synonym for "we were driving"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "we drove", "we were travelling by car", or "we were on the road".

Is it correct to say "we were drive" instead of "we were driving"?

No, "we were drive" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "we were driving", which uses the past continuous tense.

What's the difference between "we drove" and "we were driving"?

"We drove" indicates a completed action in the past, while "we were driving" suggests an ongoing action in the past, often interrupted by another event or occurring over a period of time.