were done

USAGE SUMMARY

"were done" is correct and usable in written English.
It is the past tense of the verb "to do." For example, "The dishes were done before bedtime."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Radiological sweeps were done.

The New York Times

Those days were done.

The New Yorker

Several things were done.

The New York Times - Arts

The fajitas were done.

The New Yorker

Further tests were done.

The New York Times

Reusability tests were done.

Carbohydrate Polymers

So deals were done.

The Guardian - Opinion

Mammograms were done annually.

Nature

"They were done.

The Washington Post

More tests were done.

The New York Times

The Celtics were done.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were done" to indicate the completion of an action in the past, especially when emphasizing the passive voice. Ensure the context clearly identifies what was completed.

Common error

Avoid using "was done" when the subject is plural. "Was done" is for singular subjects, while "were done" is for plural subjects. For example, "The experiments were done," not "The experiments was done."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were done" serves as the past passive form of the verb "to do". It indicates that an action was performed by an unspecified agent, focusing on the result. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Science

43%

Academia

21%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were done" is a grammatically correct and frequently used past passive construction, as confirmed by Ludwig. It conveys the completion of an action without specifying the actor. Common across diverse contexts like news, science, and academia, it maintains a generally neutral register. To ensure proper usage, remember to use "were done" with plural subjects and consider alternative phrases like "were completed" or "were finished" for varied expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were completed

Focuses on the act of finishing, implying a task has been brought to a conclusion.

had finished

Emphasizes the completion of an action or task.

were concluded

Suggests a formal ending or resolution.

were finalized

Highlights the last stages of approval or arrangement.

were executed

Emphasizes the performance or carrying out of a plan or task.

have ended

Indicates the termination of an event or process.

were terminated

Signifies a formal or abrupt conclusion.

were resolved

Implies the settlement of a problem or dispute.

were brought to a close

Suggests a more deliberate or ceremonial ending.

were wrapped up

Indicates a casual or informal completion.

FAQs

How can I use "were done" in a sentence?

You can use "were done" to describe actions that have been completed in the past, for example, "The tests "were done" yesterday" or "All the preparations "were done" before the event".

What are some alternatives to saying "were done"?

Alternatives include phrases like "were completed", "were finished", or "were executed", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "was done" instead of "were done"?

No, "was done" is used with singular subjects, while "were done" is used with plural subjects. For example, "The task was done" (singular) versus "The tasks "were done"" (plural).

What is the difference between "were done" and "had been done"?

"Were done" indicates a simple past passive action, while "had been done" indicates a past perfect passive action, emphasizing that the action was completed before another point in the past. For example, "The dishes "were done" after dinner" versus "The dishes had been done before the guests arrived."