we were very excited

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "We were very excited" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use this sentence to describe an event or experience that caused a feeling of enthusiasm or anticipation. For example, "We were very excited when we heard that the summer festival was happening this year."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

"We were very excited".

The New Yorker

"We were very excited by [the award].

The Guardian

And she came in, and we were very excited about her".

The New Yorker

Mr. Oakes said: "We were very excited about what we were doing there.

The New York Times

We were very excited, and sometimes when you're excited you make a lot of mistakes".

The New York Times

After his first start, we were very excited with this horse and with his race.

The New York Times - Sports

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

17 human-written examples

(c) "We're very excited.

The New Yorker

A spokeswoman said: "We are very excited.

Independent

We are very excited for this opportunity".

The New York Times

We are very excited to host him.

The Economist

We are very excited about this news.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we were very excited" to clearly convey enthusiasm about a past event or experience. To add specificity, follow it with a 'about' or 'by' prepositional phrase that explains the source of excitement, as in, "We were very excited about the new project".

Common error

While "we were very excited" is acceptable, consider stronger synonyms like "thrilled" or "ecstatic" to avoid weakening the impact with excessive use of the word "very".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were very excited" functions as a statement expressing a feeling of enthusiasm or anticipation regarding a past event or situation. It uses the past tense of the verb "to be" to indicate that the excitement occurred in the past. Ludwig AI confirms that the sentence is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "we were very excited" is a common and grammatically correct way to express past enthusiasm, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It is widely used in news, media and scientific contexts. While "very" is acceptable, consider stronger synonyms like "thrilled" or "ecstatic" for increased impact. When employing the expression, clarifying the reason for excitement enhances its meaning and relevance. Alternatives such as "we were thrilled" or "we were delighted" can add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were thrilled

Expresses strong excitement and pleasure, similar to "we were very excited" but can indicate a higher degree of delight.

we were ecstatic

Indicates overwhelming happiness and excitement, suggesting a higher level of emotion than "we were very excited".

we were delighted

Conveys a sense of great pleasure and satisfaction, implying a positive reaction akin to "we were very excited".

we were eagerly anticipating

Focuses on the anticipation and eagerness for something to happen, highlighting the expectant excitement.

we were keenly interested

Highlights strong interest and enthusiasm, which is a slightly more subdued form of excitement.

we were very keen

Similar to keenly interested, it describes enthusiasm and interest but may imply a readiness or willingness.

we were on the edge of our seats

Figurative language emphasizing suspense and excitement, suggesting intense anticipation.

we were pumped up

Informal phrase expressing high energy and excitement, particularly before an event.

we were buzzing with excitement

Emphasizes a lively and energetic feeling of excitement, suggesting a palpable sense of anticipation.

we were all agog

Suggests intense curiosity and excitement, often used when witnessing something remarkable or unexpected.

FAQs

How can I use "we were very excited" in a sentence?

Use "we were very excited" to express enthusiasm or anticipation about something that happened. For example, "We were very excited when we heard the news".

What are some alternatives to "we were very excited"?

You can use alternatives like "we were thrilled", "we were delighted", or "we were ecstatic" to convey similar feelings of enthusiasm.

Is it grammatically correct to say "we were very excited"?

Yes, "we were very excited" is grammatically correct. It follows the standard subject-verb-adverb-adjective structure in English.

How does "we were very excited" compare to "we are very excited"?

"We were very excited" describes past excitement, while "we are very excited" describes present excitement. Use the former for events that have already occurred and the latter for current or future events.