we were staying

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "We were staying" is a correct and usable sentence in written English.
You can use it to show that two or more people were in the process of visiting or lodging somewhere for an extended period of time. For example: "We were staying at a cottage in the woods for a week when the rain started."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

We were staying with my sister.

The New Yorker

We wished we were staying there.

The New York Times - Travel

We were staying in the same hotel.

The New Yorker

We were staying in a tipi.

The Guardian - Music

We were staying with him," said Simesihile Soyaye.

Independent

We were staying at his house to do an album.

The Guardian - Music

Because we were staying together, we travelled together".

The Guardian

I recognized her from the building where we were staying.

The New Yorker

When we were staying in the bedsit, she appeared happy.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

When we were staying in New York in 1969 we were staying at the Lowes Midtown hotel.

The Guardian - Sport

We were staying at the resort's Hard Rock Hotel.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure that the sentence clearly indicates the location or duration of your stay to provide adequate context.

Common error

Avoid using "we are staying" when describing a past situation. The correct tense is "we were staying" to reflect that the lodging occurred in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were staying" functions as a verb phrase in the past continuous tense. It describes an ongoing action of residing or lodging somewhere at a specific time in the past. Ludwig confirms that it is a correct and usable sentence.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "we were staying" is a common and grammatically sound way to describe a past lodging situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively communicates that a group of people were temporarily residing somewhere. Predominantly found in news and media, as well as academic writing, this phrase serves to provide context, often setting the stage for a story or explaining circumstances. When aiming for variety, alternatives such as "we had been lodging" or "we were accommodated" can be used. Remember to keep the tense consistent when referring to past events to avoid grammatical errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

where we were lodging

Rephrases as a clause specifying the location of the lodging.

we had been lodging

Focuses on the act of lodging, implying a temporary residence.

where we were residing

Emphasizes the location aspect, suggesting a more permanent context.

we had been residing

Highlights the act of residing, suggesting a more formal or long-term stay.

we were housed

Emphasizes that accommodation was provided, potentially by someone else.

we were accommodated

Similar to 'we were housed', stressing the act of being provided with lodging.

we found ourselves staying

Indicates an element of chance or unexpectedness in the decision to stay.

we were put up

Suggests a more informal or temporary arrangement for accommodation.

we took up residence

Implies a more deliberate and established period of staying.

our accommodation was

Shifts the focus to the location or type of lodging rather than the act of staying.

FAQs

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

"We were staying" is used to describe a past situation where a group of people were temporarily residing somewhere. For example: "We were staying at a hotel near the beach."

What are some alternatives to saying "we were staying"?

Alternatives include "we had been lodging", "we had been residing", or "we were accommodated", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

Is it correct to say "we are staying" when referring to a past event?

No, "we are staying" refers to a present or future event. Use "we were staying" to correctly describe a past lodging situation.

What's the difference between "we were staying" and "we stayed"?

"We were staying" implies a continuous action over a period in the past, while "we stayed" simply indicates that the action of staying occurred.