we were students

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were students" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a past state of being a student, often in a narrative or reflective context. Example: "Looking back on those days, we were students eager to learn and explore new ideas."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

We met when we were students at Sussex University.

The Guardian - Books

When we were students we would go just for the fun of sightseeing".

The New York Times

When we were students, we galloped through our university studies in three years.

The Guardian

"We have been looking to make these pieces since we were students," they said.

Independent

"Because we were students," Ms. Collier said, "the owner wanted a three-month security deposit.

The New York Times

I first met Bruce in the 1960s when we were students at Thomas Bennett secondary school, in Crawley.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

And my motley crew and I from Berlin--we were students who made a black-and-white film.

Huffington Post

We are students of the situationist movement.

The Guardian

"We're poor because we're students," says Amelia.

The Guardian

We have a life outside of the rink, we're students at the University of Michigan.

The New York Times - Sports

Ironically, we read "In the Time of the Butterflies" last year in the book club at Schreiber High School, where we are students.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we were students" to clearly and directly state a past condition of being enrolled in an educational institution. This phrase is suitable for both formal and informal contexts.

Common error

Avoid shifting tenses inappropriately when discussing the period "we were students". Ensure that subsequent actions or states are described using past tenses to maintain clarity and coherence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were students" functions as a subject complement, identifying a past state of being. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is commonly used to describe a shared experience or background, as showcased in several examples.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Huffington Post

20%

Vice

10%

Less common in

Science

6%

The New Yorker

6%

The Guardian

10%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we were students" is a grammatically sound and commonly employed expression used to denote a past state of being enrolled in an educational institution. As supported by Ludwig AI, it serves primarily to provide background information or establish a shared experience. While it finds its most frequent occurrences in news and media contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for various settings. When using this phrase, remember to maintain tense consistency and consider alternative phrasings like "we used to be students" or "we had been students" depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we used to be students

Replaces the past simple "were" with the phrase "used to be", indicating a past habit or state.

we had been students

Uses the past perfect continuous to emphasize the duration of being students before a certain point in time.

we studied

Focuses on the activity of studying rather than the state of being students.

we attended school

Highlights the act of attending an educational institution.

we were enrolled

Emphasizes the formal registration or enrollment in an educational program.

we were undergraduates

Specifies the level of education as undergraduate studies.

we were pupils

Uses "pupils" as a synonym for "students", often used in a more formal or British English context.

we were learners

Focuses on the act of learning rather than the formal status of being students.

we were in school

Indicates a general state of being in school or attending classes.

our student days

Refers to the period when the speakers were students, often with a nostalgic tone.

FAQs

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

You can use "we were students" to describe a past period of enrollment in an educational institution, for example: "Looking back, "we were students" full of dreams and aspirations."

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

Alternatives include "we used to be students" or "we had been students", depending on the context and emphasis you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "we are students" instead of "we were students"?

No, "we are students" indicates a current state, whereas "we were students" refers to a past state. Use "we are students" if you are currently enrolled and "we were students" if you are referring to a time in the past.

What is the difference between "we were students" and "we studied"?

"We were students" describes the state of being enrolled in education, while "we studied" focuses on the act of learning and engaging with academic material. The former emphasizes status, the latter emphasizes action.