were being

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'were being' is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It is the past progressive tense of the verb 'to be', which is used to indicate that an action was taking place before another action in the past. For example: We were being watched by the security guard as we left the building.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Imbalances were being redressed.

The Economist

"People were being brutalized.

The New York Times

"They were being innovative".

The New York Times

Accordions were being unpacked.

The New York Times - Travel

Chairs were being hurled.

The New York Times

Preparations were being made.

The New York Times

Others were being sought.

The New York Times

Smorgasbords were being assembled.

The New York Times - Travel

"They were being ignored".

The New York Times

You were being brave.

The New Yorker

But exceptions were being made.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were being" to describe actions happening over a period of time in the past when the subject is plural. For instance, "The packages were being delivered throughout the day."

Common error

Avoid using "were being" with a singular subject. The correct form for a singular subject is "was being". Example: Incorrect: "The package were being delivered". Correct: "The package was being delivered".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were being" functions as the past continuous passive form of the verb "to be". It indicates an ongoing action in the past that was being performed on the subject. As evidenced by Ludwig, this construction commonly appears in news articles and academic papers.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were being" serves as the past continuous passive voice, describing ongoing actions that occurred to a subject in the past. Ludwig AI affirms its grammatical correctness and common usage, particularly within news and academic domains. While its register is generally neutral, it's important to ensure subject-verb agreement (plural subjects only). Alternatives exist for stylistic variation or emphasis. Remember to check examples from Ludwig to refine your writing. By understanding its function and context, you can effectively employ "were being" to enhance clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was in the process of being

Emphasizes that an action was underway but not necessarily completed.

was undergoing

Emphasizes a process of change or transformation.

was going through

Suggests a temporal experience that is on-going.

was getting

Focuses on the commencement or transition into a state rather than a continuous process.

was exposed to

Focuses on the act of revealing or subjecting something to an external factor.

was experiencing

Indicates a state or condition that someone or something was going through.

was subjected to

Highlights the experience of undergoing something, often negative.

was under

Describes a state of being subjected to a particular influence or action.

faced

Highlights the confrontation of a challenge or situation.

was in receipt of

Highlights a formal acceptance or intake of something.

FAQs

How is "were being" used in a sentence?

The phrase "were being" is the past continuous passive form of the verb "to be", used to describe an ongoing action in the past that was being done to someone or something. For instance, "The houses "were being built" when the storm hit".

What's a simple way to explain the meaning of "were being"?

"Were being" indicates a continuous action in the past that was happening to a plural subject. For example, "The students "were being taught" a new lesson".

What can I use instead of "were being" to sound more direct?

You can use active voice constructions to replace "were being" for a more direct tone. For example, instead of "Mistakes "were being made"", you could say "People "made mistakes"".

When should I use "were being" versus "was being"?

"Were being" is for plural subjects, while "was being" is for singular subjects. For example, "The books "were being read"" (plural), but "The book "was being read"" (singular).