we were greeted

USAGE SUMMARY

"we were greeted" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where a group of people were received upon their arrival in a place or situation. For example: "We were greeted with warm smiles by the staff when we arrived at the resort."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We were greeted by an overweight dog.

Harvard University

In every town we were greeted with cheers and tears.

Harvard Business Review

The clouds parted and we were greeted with sunny skies.

The New York Times

Elsewhere, we were greeted warmly -- sometimes with a disconcerting attentiveness.

The New York Times

Wherever we went we were greeted with open arms and exclamations of joy.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

At Ana Delia Ibarra's day care center, we were greeted with smiles and enthusiasm.

Harvard University

Perhaps it was fitting that we were greeted with sobering news from the CDC last week.

The Guardian - Opinion

On Monday afternoon, I entered the park with two friends and we were greeted by Sage.

The Guardian - Opinion

We were greeted by an unsmiling host who waved us to a table.

The New York Times

When we entered, we were greeted by Wahiba, who was another surprise.

The New Yorker

On the first morning, we were greeted by low cloud cover and thunderheads.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we were greeted" to describe the initial reception of a group upon arrival. Specify who or what performed the greeting to provide clarity and context. For instance, "We were greeted by the friendly staff" offers a more vivid picture than just "We were greeted".

Common error

Avoid vague sentences like "We were greeted" without specifying who or what did the greeting. This can leave the reader wondering who or what was responsible for the greeting. Always aim for clarity by including the agent: "We were greeted by the host" is much more informative.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were greeted" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject ('we') received an action (being greeted). Ludwig confirms its proper usage. This construction is commonly used to describe an initial reception upon arrival.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Academia

17%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Science

4%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "we were greeted" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe being welcomed upon arrival, as confirmed by Ludwig. Its usage spans across various contexts, including news, academia, and formal business settings. To improve clarity, specify the agent of greeting. While "we were greeted" is generally appropriate, alternatives like "we received a welcome" or "we were welcomed" can be considered for varying degrees of formality. Remember, the passive voice construction emphasizes the experience of being received, setting the stage for further narrative development.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were welcomed

A more concise and direct alternative, focusing on the act of being welcomed.

we received a welcome

Emphasizes the act of receiving a welcome, rather than being greeted directly.

we were met with

Highlights the manner in which we were received, which could be positive or negative.

a greeting awaited us

Inverts the sentence structure, emphasizing the greeting itself.

we encountered

Suggests a chance meeting or discovery, adding an element of surprise.

we were introduced to

Focuses on the act of being formally presented to something or someone.

we were faced with

Implies a challenge or obstacle upon arrival, rather than a simple greeting.

we were on the receiving end of

Highlights being the recipient of something, which could be positive or negative.

we were shown

Focuses on being guided or directed, often implying a tour or demonstration.

we experienced

Emphasizes the overall experience, rather than a specific greeting.

FAQs

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

Use "we were greeted" to describe the reception a group received upon arrival. For example, "We were greeted by the manager upon entering the hotel" or "We were greeted with cheers and applause".

What is a more formal alternative to "we were greeted"?

A more formal alternative could be "we received a welcome". This phrase is suitable for professional or academic contexts where a more elevated tone is desired. You can also consider the alternatives "we were welcomed" or "we were met with" depending on the situation.

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

No, "we was greeted" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "we were greeted" because "we" is a plural pronoun, and the plural form of the verb "to be" in the past tense is "were".

What's the difference between "we were greeted" and "we greeted"?

"We were greeted" means that someone else welcomed us. "We greeted" means that we welcomed someone else. The difference lies in who is performing the act of greeting.