we were visited

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "We were visited" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an incident where someone came to visit you at a certain time or place. For example: "Last weekend, we were visited by our old friends from college."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

"Yes, we were visited by one Barack Obama," he said.

The New York Times

Well, first we were visited by a plague of rodents.

The Guardian

"It was 21 January 2001 when we were visited by four lions in the night.

The Guardian - Travel

As one witness wrote: "That 'something' came down in the Berwyn mountains on that night I am certain … we were visited by an object that evening".

The Guardian

Throughout our meal, we were visited by the hostess and the master sommelier, both of whom were young and attentive without being obtrusive.

The New York Times - Travel

And so it came to pass that we were visited by Belinda, who makes it her job to travel around telling people to tidy their desks.

The Guardian - Money

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

We were visiting NYC.

The New York Times

We were visiting those summers again.

The New Yorker

Any recommendations if we were visiting?

The Guardian - Travel

Three years later, when we were visiting Times Square, we happened upon a police squad car.

The New York Times

We were visiting Toronto, and were at a very nice French restaurant downtown.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we were visited" when you want to emphasize that your group or location was the recipient of the action, rather than the initiator. This is especially useful in formal or neutral writing where objectivity is desired.

Common error

Avoid using "we visited" when you intend to convey that you were the recipients of a visit. "We visited" implies that you were the ones doing the visiting, not the other way around.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we were visited" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject (we) received the action of being visited. This passive voice allows the writer to emphasize the experience of being visited rather than who performed the act. Ludwig AI confirms this usage is grammatically sound and common.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Formal & Business

3%

Science

2%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "we were visited" is a grammatically correct passive construction used to describe the act of receiving visitors or experiencing an event. Ludwig AI indicates that this usage is standard and acceptable in written English. It is most commonly found in news and media contexts, offering a neutral tone suitable for reporting events. Alternative phrases like "we received a visit" or "visitors came to see us" can provide more active alternatives, while it's important to avoid confusing it with the active form "we visited". Overall, "we were visited" is a versatile phrase for describing experiences of receiving visitors in various formal and informal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we received a visit

Replaces the passive voice with an active construction while maintaining a similar meaning.

we had visitors

Uses a more direct and common way to express the act of receiving visitors.

visitors came to see us

Emphasizes the action of visitors arriving to meet or spend time with the speaker.

we were paid a visit

Adds a formal tone, suggesting a deliberate or official visit.

we experienced a visitation

Implies a more profound or significant encounter, often with spiritual connotations.

a group visited us

Specifies that the visitors were in a group instead of singular form.

we were in receipt of a visit

Uses a more formal and somewhat archaic phrasing.

we greeted guests

Focuses on the act of welcoming and hosting visitors.

we played host to visitors

Highlights the role of the speaker as the host of the visitors.

guests arrived at our place

Describes the arrival of guests in a straightforward manner.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "we were visited" to sound more active?

You can use phrases like "we received a visit" or "visitors came to see us" to shift the focus to the action of visiting.

What's the difference between "we visited" and "we were visited"?

"We visited" indicates that we were the ones doing the visiting, while "we were visited" means that others came to visit us. The difference lies in who is performing the action.

Is "we were visited by" more formal than "we had visitors"?

Yes, "we were visited by" tends to be more formal, often used in news reports or official statements, while "we had visitors" is more casual and commonly used in everyday conversation.

Can "we were visited" imply something other than a personal visit?

Yes, depending on the context, "we were visited" can refer to something abstract or unexpected, such as "we were visited by an idea" or "we were visited with a problem", implying an experience or event rather than a person.