were already booked

USAGE SUMMARY

"were already booked" is correct and can be used in written English.
For example, you could use it in a sentence like this: "We had hoped to stay in the hotel, but all of the rooms were already booked."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

30 human-written examples

And the flights were already booked.

The Guardian - Travel

And some of the grounds were already booked.

The Economist

But the pros were already booked for 9/11 this year.

The New York Times

Since we were doing this on short notice last month, several farms were already booked solid.

The New York Times - Travel

And although there were some around the £400-500 a week mark, most were already booked.

The Guardian - Travel

Some inns advertise rooms in that price range but they were already booked.

The New York Times - Travel

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

26 human-written examples

It was already booked.

The New York Times

It is already booked out for every sitting in 2008.

Independent

Seven of the 10 rooms are already booked.

The New York Times - Sports

Weekdays are already booked weeks ahead for class trips.

The New York Times

It is already booked on their calendar, Jun said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were already booked" when referring to a prior arrangement or reservation that prevents current availability. It is suitable for describing appointments, travel arrangements, venues, and other resources.

Common error

Avoid using "was already booked" when referring to multiple subjects. The plural form "were" is necessary for plural subjects.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were already booked" functions as a predicate in a sentence, specifically as a passive voice construction. It indicates the state of being previously reserved or engaged. Ludwig confirms this phrase is correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

87%

Science

8%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were already booked" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed phrase used to convey that something is unavailable due to prior reservations or commitments. According to Ludwig, this phrase is considered correct. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, it serves to inform audiences about the status of resources, schedules, or appointments. When using the phrase, ensure that the plural form is correctly matched with plural subjects to maintain grammatical accuracy. The numerous real-world examples confirm its widespread use across various topics, from hotel rooms to events, showcasing its versatility.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had already been reserved

Replaces "booked" with "reserved" and uses past perfect tense for emphasis.

were previously scheduled

Substitutes "booked" with "scheduled", focusing on the timing aspect.

were fully committed

Emphasizes the complete lack of availability due to existing obligations.

had prior engagements

Replaces "booked" with a more formal term, indicating pre-existing appointments.

were unavailable

A simpler and more direct way of saying something was not free.

were not available

Directly states the lack of availability, without specifying the reason.

were taken

A more concise and informal way to indicate unavailability.

were all filled

Emphasizes that all available slots or spaces were occupied.

were spoken for

Indicates that someone else had already claimed or arranged for something.

already had plans

Highlights the existence of pre-arranged schedules or activities.

FAQs

How can I use "were already booked" in a sentence?

You can use "were already booked" to indicate that something was reserved or arranged in advance, such as "The rooms "were already booked" when we tried to make a reservation".

What's a more formal alternative to "were already booked"?

A more formal alternative could be "had already been reserved", which conveys a similar meaning with a slightly elevated tone.

Is it correct to say "was already booked" instead of "were already booked"?

The correctness depends on the subject. Use "was already booked" for singular subjects (e.g., "the venue was already booked"), and "were already booked" for plural subjects (e.g., "the venues "were already booked"").

What can I say instead of "were already booked" to imply unavailability?

You can use alternatives like "were unavailable", "were not available", or "were fully committed" depending on the context.