were delivered

USAGE SUMMARY

"were delivered" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the past tense of the verb "deliver," meaning to send or give something to someone. For example: "The packages were delivered to the customers yesterday."

✓ Grammatically correct

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

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Independent

Last year, there were 1,513 agreements.

Los Angeles Times

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"Christmas is Christmas".

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It was early August, 1954.

Forbes

It was yesterday; it is not today.

The New York Times

That's 1975 billions!

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were delivered", ensure the subject clearly indicates what items or entities were delivered to avoid ambiguity. For example, "The packages were delivered on time" is clearer than "They were delivered."

Common error

Avoid using "was delivered" when referring to multiple items. The plural verb "were" should be used with plural subjects.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were delivered" functions as the passive past tense of the verb "deliver". It indicates that something (the subject) received the action of being delivered by someone or something else. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were delivered" is the grammatically correct passive past tense form of "deliver", used to indicate that something has been delivered. Ludwig AI confirms its validity in written English. While no specific examples were found in the provided data, the phrase generally carries a neutral register and is suitable for various contexts. Remember to ensure proper subject-verb agreement and clarity in sentence construction when employing this phrase. If you're seeking alternatives, consider options like "had been transported" or "were shipped" to add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been transported

Emphasizes the action of transportation prior to arrival, rather than the completion of the delivery.

were transported

Focuses on the transportation aspect, omitting the final act of handing over the item.

were shipped

Specifically implies transportation via a shipping service or method.

were conveyed

Implies a more formal or official transfer of items.

were dispatched

Focuses on the sending or forwarding aspect of the delivery process.

were handed over

Highlights the act of physically transferring something from one party to another.

were provided

Highlights the act of making something available, which could include delivery.

were supplied

Focuses on the act of providing a resource, with delivery being implied as part of the process.

were routed

Implies a specific path or direction was followed during transportation.

were forwarded

Emphasizes the action of sending something on to a further destination.

FAQs

How to use "were delivered" in a sentence?

Use "were delivered" to describe the past action of delivering something to multiple recipients or a plural subject. For example, "The packages "were delivered" to the customers yesterday".

What's the difference between "were delivered" and "was delivered"?

"Were delivered" is used for plural subjects, while "was delivered" is used for singular subjects. For instance, "The letters "were delivered"" (plural) versus "The letter "was delivered"" (singular).

What can I say instead of "were delivered"?

You can use alternatives like "had been transported", "were shipped", or "were conveyed" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "they were delivered"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct, but ensure that the context makes it clear what "they" refers to. For example, if you previously mentioned "the documents", you can then say "they "were delivered" this morning".