we were shopping

USAGE SUMMARY

'We were shopping' is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it to describe a past activity or situation. For example: “Yesterday, we were shopping for groceries at the supermarket.”.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

31 human-written examples

"We were shopping in Reading.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

We were shopping for clothing.

The New York Times

"One day we were shopping and we saw this tuna fish," he said.

The New York Times - Food

It was a bit like we were shopping for science, in a rather dystopian mall.

The Guardian

"We were shopping in the Village," Ms. Stewart said, "and we saw the protesters, and we decided to join them".

The New York Times

I was just about to leave for a short vacation and we were shopping together for souvenirs for my family.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

29 human-written examples

So, here we are, shopping and shopping.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I want to pretend we're shopping for you.

The New York Times - Magazine

We're shopping it to our colleagues," Flake told reporters.

The Washington Post

"Next time we're shopping at Wal-Mart".

The New Yorker

When we're shopping for a vacation we're primarily thinking about Where.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we were shopping" to describe an ongoing activity in the past. For example, "We were shopping when it started to rain."

Common error

Avoid using "we was shopping", as "was" is singular. The correct form for a plural subject like "we" is "were".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were shopping" functions as a verb phrase in the past progressive tense. It describes an action that was in progress at a specific point in the past. According to Ludwig, this usage is grammatically correct and well-supported by real-world examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we were shopping" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe an ongoing shopping activity in the past. Ludwig AI validates this, confirming that it adheres to standard English grammar. Predominantly found in News & Media, its neutrality makes it suitable for various contexts. When using this phrase, ensure consistent tense and consider alternatives like "we went shopping" or "we shopped" for nuanced meanings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we went shopping

Uses the verb 'go' to indicate the act of starting the shopping activity.

we were out shopping

Adds 'out' to emphasize being away from home while shopping.

we shopped

Simple past tense instead of past progressive, indicating a completed action rather than an ongoing one.

we did some shopping

Uses 'do some shopping' to describe the act of engaging in shopping.

we had been shopping

Past perfect progressive, indicating the shopping activity occurred before another point in the past.

we were on a shopping trip

Highlights the event as a dedicated trip for shopping.

we were browsing

Implies looking at items without necessarily buying them.

shopping was underway

A more formal way of saying that shopping was happening.

we were purchasing items

More specific, indicating the act of buying things.

we were hunting for bargains

Specifies the type of shopping activity as searching for good deals.

FAQs

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

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

What's a good alternative to "we were shopping"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "we shopped", "we went shopping", or "we were browsing".

Is it correct to say "we was shopping"?

No, "we was shopping" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "we were shopping", as "were" is the past tense plural form of "to be".

What is the difference between "we were shopping" and "we shopped"?

"We were shopping" implies an ongoing action in the past, while "we shopped" indicates a completed action in the past. For example, "We were shopping when the store closed" versus "We shopped yesterday".