were captured

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence fragment "were captured" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe that somebody or something was taken as a prisoner of war or in law enforcement. For example, "The criminals were captured after a long chase."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

were captured.

Forest Ecology and Management

Three were captured.

The Economist

These were captured photographs.

Yale University

Five others were captured.

The New York Times

The convicts were captured.

The New York Times

Fourteen rebels were captured.

The New York Times

Eight were captured.

The New York Times

Others were captured.

The Guardian

They were captured and returned.

The New York Times

They were captured almost immediately.

The New York Times

Three terrorists were captured at the airport.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were captured" in contexts where you want to emphasize the state of being captured rather than who performed the capturing action. This is common in news reports and historical accounts.

Common error

Avoid using active voice when the passive voice construction with "were captured" is more appropriate. For example, instead of "The enemy captured the soldiers", use "The soldiers were captured by the enemy" to shift the focus to the soldiers' experience.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were captured" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that a subject (plural) underwent the action of being taken or seized. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and usable in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were captured" is a grammatically sound and versatile passive voice construction, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Its primary function is to denote that a plural subject has undergone the action of being taken or seized. It is frequently encountered in news reports, scientific articles, and historical narratives, making it a reliable choice for conveying information objectively. While it is widely used, remember to choose the active voice when it is more appropriate for the context. Furthermore, explore related phrases to add nuance and precision to your writing. The prevalence of this phrase in authoritative sources underscores its importance in effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were apprehended

This suggests a more formal or legal context of being taken into custody.

were taken into custody

This phrase emphasizes the legal aspect of being captured by authorities.

were seized

This implies a forceful taking of something, often in a military or law enforcement context.

became captives

This highlights the state of being held prisoner after the act of capture.

were taken prisoner

This specifically indicates being taken into captivity, often during wartime.

were apprehended and detained

This expands on 'were apprehended', adding the explicit action of being held in custody.

ended up being captured

This adds a sense of inevitability or circumstance to the capture.

were caught

This is a more informal way of saying "were captured", implying a less formal context.

fell into enemy hands

This suggests capture by an opposing force, often in a military context.

were ensnared

This implies being trapped or tricked into capture.

FAQs

How is "were captured" used in a sentence?

The phrase "were captured" indicates that a subject has been taken prisoner or seized. For example, "The soldiers "were captured" during the battle."

What are some alternatives to "were captured"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "were apprehended", "were seized", or "were taken into custody".

Is it better to say "were captured" or "was captured"?

"Were captured" is used for plural subjects (e.g., "The soldiers were captured"), while "was captured" is for singular subjects (e.g., "The spy was captured").

What's the difference between "were captured" and "captured"?

"Were captured" is in the passive voice, indicating that the subject received the action. "Captured" can be in the active voice (e.g., "They captured the fort"). The passive form emphasizes what happened to the subject, as in "The fort "were captured" by the enemy."