we were talked

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we were talked" is not correct in English.
Did you mean "we were talked to"? If this is the case, you can use it when indicating that someone spoke to you or addressed you in conversation. Example: "After the meeting, we were talked to by our manager about our performance."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

"We were talked into that space by Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich and Tom Colicchio," Friedman said.

The New Yorker

"We were talked about as having the swagger without the substance but hopefully over these opening months we've shown that we're going to be here to fight," he said.

BBC

Justin began art school and we were talked a lot about Dada [an early 20th century art movement created in response to World War I].

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

"We were talking".

The New York Times

We were talking and watching.

The New Yorker

"We were talking earlier.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"We were talking, smoking.

The Guardian

"But we were talking about the Hamptons.

The New York Times

"We were talking about strict rules.

BBC

We were talking about?

Huffington Post

We were talking to the umpire".

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "we were talked". Instead, use the grammatically correct form "we were talked to" or other alternatives like "we were addressed" or "we were spoken to" to ensure clarity and accuracy in your writing.

Common error

A common mistake is using "talked" passively without the preposition "to" when indicating someone spoke to you. Always ensure the correct passive construction, as omitting "to" changes the meaning and makes the sentence grammatically incorrect. For example, instead of "we were talked", use "we were talked to".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were talked" functions as a passive construction, but it is grammatically incomplete and incorrect. As Ludwig AI indicates, the correct form requires the preposition "to" (i.e., "we were talked to") to properly convey the meaning of someone addressing or speaking to the subject.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "we were talked" is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI indicates, the correct phrasing is "we were talked to", "we were spoken to", or "we were addressed". The incorrect phrase appears rarely, primarily in news and media contexts. When writing, ensure you use the correct construction to maintain clarity and grammatical accuracy. Alternatives like "we were advised" or "we were persuaded" may also be appropriate depending on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were spoken to

Emphasizes the act of being spoken to, but in a grammatically correct manner.

we were addressed

Focuses on someone formally speaking to the group.

we were advised

Highlights the reception of counsel or recommendations.

we were persuaded

Indicates a successful effort to change someone's opinion or course of action.

we were convinced

Shows a state of being certain after some discussion.

we were influenced

Suggests that external factors played a role in our decision.

we had a discussion

Focuses on the act of having a conversation about a specific topic.

we engaged in conversation

Highlights mutual participation in a dialogue.

we were in conversation

Indicates that a conversation was ongoing.

we were debriefed

Emphasizes receiving instructions or information after an event.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say someone spoke to us?

The correct way to say someone spoke to us is "we were talked to", "we were spoken to", or "we were addressed". The phrase "we were talked" is grammatically incorrect.

Is "we were talked" grammatically correct?

No, "we were talked" is not grammatically correct. The correct form is "we were talked to". Other alternatives include "we were spoken to" or "we were addressed".

What can I say instead of "we were talked to"?

You can use alternatives like "we were spoken to", "we were addressed", or "we were advised" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "we were talked to" and "we were talked about"?

"We were talked to" means someone directly spoke to us. "We were talked about" means someone discussed us with others. The former implies direct communication, while the latter implies indirect discussion.