we were finished

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence 'we were finished' is correct and usable in written English.
It is most often used to refer to the completion of a task or activity. For example: After two days of painting, we were finally finished.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

"I thought we were finished," he said.

The New York Times

Finally, at 11 30 A.M., we were finished.

The New Yorker

Of course, almost as soon as we were finished, we were transferred to New York.

The New York Times

"By the time we were finished, our heads were spinning," he said.

The Guardian

She'd be washing the dinner plates the second we were finished.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"We thought we were finished with the whole process," she said.

The New York Times

The bank sent notices, the creditors circled and we were finished.

The Guardian

When we were finished, we asked the kids if they had any questions or concerns.

The New Yorker

It wasn't a very large house, and we don't know if he thought we were finished.

The New York Times

"People can survive one organ system failing and even two," the senior doctor said to me after we were finished.

The New York Times

On one tumultuous Saturday night, runners plunked down entrees on our table before we were finished with our appetizers.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we were finished" to clearly indicate the completion of a task or activity by a group. It's straightforward and easily understood.

Common error

Be mindful of the context when using "we were finished". Ensure it's clear what 'we' refers to and what activity has been completed to avoid confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were finished" functions as a statement of completion. It indicates that a group ('we') has completed a task, activity, or process. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

87%

Wiki

7%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Science

1%

Reference

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we were finished" is a grammatically sound and widely used expression to denote the completion of an action or task by a group. According to Ludwig AI, it is correct and usable in written English. Its neutral register makes it appropriate for various contexts, including news, media, and everyday conversations. While versatile, it is crucial to ensure clarity regarding the subject and the completed task to avoid ambiguity. Alternative phrases like "we were done", "we had concluded", and "we had completed it" can provide subtle variations in tone and formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were done

A more informal and concise way of expressing completion.

we had completed it

Emphasizes the action of completing something by a specific group.

we were through

Indicates the end of an experience or relationship.

we had concluded

Suggests a more formal or decisive ending.

we reached the end

Focuses on arriving at the termination point of something.

we wrapped up

Implies tidying up or finalizing something.

we had it all done

Emphasizes that everything related to the task is completed.

we brought it to a close

A more formal way to express ending a project or activity.

we finalized everything

Highlights the act of making something final and complete.

we ceased operations

Indicates the termination of activities, often in a business context.

FAQs

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

You can use "we were finished" to indicate that a task, project, or activity has been completed. For example, "After the meeting, "we were finished" with the planning stage".

What's a more informal way to say "we were finished"?

A more informal alternative to "we were finished" is "we were done". This is suitable for casual conversations and less formal writing.

What can I say instead of "we were finished" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, you could say "we had concluded" or "we had completed it". These alternatives are appropriate for professional or academic settings.

Is "we were finished" grammatically correct?

Yes, "we were finished" is grammatically correct. It uses the past tense of the verb 'to be' with the past participle of 'finish' to indicate a completed state.