were being thrown

USAGE SUMMARY

"were being thrown" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is known as the past progressive passive tense and is used to describe an ongoing action that was happening in the past, while also emphasizing that the action was being done to the subject. One example of using "were being thrown" in a sentence is: "The apples were being thrown into the basket by the children." In this sentence, the verb "were being thrown" is in the past progressive passive tense and shows that the children were throwing the apples into the basket continuously.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Words were being thrown around that I had never heard before: What was a term sheet?

Forbes

Stones were being thrown.

The Guardian - Opinion

Knives were being thrown at me!

The New York Times

Ben Doherty said, "Smoke was everywhere, bottles were being thrown.

The New Yorker

Unexpected errors were being thrown in a limited number of wildcard searches; this is now fixed.

Cornell University

In Britain, bikes were being thrown in a canal in Manchester.

The Washington Post

Phrases like 'lack of respect', 'deplorable' and 'embarrassment' were being thrown around," said one.

The Guardian

"People were being thrown in jail for expressing opinions," Nott said.

The Washington Post

He sometimes catches entry passes as if he were being thrown an egg.

The New York Times - Sports

To viewers and reviewers, though, it looked as if two dogs were being thrown one bone.

The Guardian

This was during a military dictatorship when dissidents were being thrown into the ocean from airplanes.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were being thrown", ensure that the subject performing the action is clearly identified, either explicitly or implicitly, to provide context and clarity to the sentence.

Common error

Overusing passive voice constructions like "were being thrown" can sometimes obscure who or what is performing the action. Rephrase to active voice when possible to strengthen the sentence. For example, instead of "Rocks were being thrown", consider "Protesters were throwing rocks."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were being thrown" functions as a passive verb phrase in the past continuous tense. It indicates an ongoing action performed upon a subject in the past. Ludwig examples show this usage across diverse contexts, confirming its grammatical validity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Academia

10%

Science

11%

Less common in

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were being thrown" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase in the past progressive passive tense. Ludwig AI confirms its consistent use across diverse contexts. While versatile, writers should be mindful of clarity, especially concerning active vs. passive voice. Alternatives such as "were hurled" or "were tossed" may offer a more precise meaning. The phrase is predominantly found in news and media, and it maintains a neutral register. By understanding its function and purpose, you can effectively utilize "were being thrown" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were hurled

Emphasizes a forceful and rapid throwing action, often implying anger or violence.

were flung

Similar to "hurled", but may also imply a careless or reckless throwing action.

were tossed

Suggests a casual and less forceful throwing action.

were pitched

Implies throwing something with a specific target or direction, often in a sporting context.

were cast

Suggests a more deliberate and ceremonial throwing action, like casting a spell or a fishing line.

were launched

Suggests a formal or technological throwing action, like launching a rocket.

were discharged

Suggests something released abruptly or forcefully.

were dispensed

Implies a systematic or controlled distribution.

were spread

Suggests a widespread or diffused scattering action.

were diffused

Indicates a distribution over a wide area

FAQs

How is "were being thrown" used in a sentence?

The phrase "were being thrown" describes an ongoing action in the past where something is being hurled. For example, "Stones "were being thrown" during the riot" indicates that the action of throwing stones was happening continuously.

What are some alternatives to "were being thrown"?

Alternatives include "were hurled", "were tossed", or "were flung". The best choice depends on the specific context and the desired emphasis.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "were being thrown"?

While "were being thrown" is grammatically correct, using the active voice can often create a more direct and impactful sentence. For instance, instead of "The documents were being thrown away", consider "Someone was throwing away the documents".

What is the tense of "were being thrown"?

The phrase "were being thrown" is in the past progressive passive tense, indicating an action that was in progress in the past and was being done to the subject.