were drawn against

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were drawn against" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where you are describing a situation where two or more entities are set in opposition or competition, often in a legal or competitive context. Example: "The teams were drawn against each other in the first round of the tournament."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

After beating Gent and Antwerp, they were drawn against Anderlecht.

The Guardian - Sport

Those idle thoughts were soon banished when we were drawn against Liverpool in the semi-finals.

The Guardian - Sport

Bradford were drawn against Dutch team RKC Waalwijk in the third round.

The Guardian - Sport

Arsenal were drawn against north-London rivals Tottenham in the third round of the FA Cup.

Independent

In today's draw in Switzerland, David O'Leary's side were paired with PSV Eindhoven, while Rangers were drawn against Feyenoord.

The Guardian - Sport

Former West Ham winger We were drawn against Ipswich Town in the Championship play-off semi-finals in 2004.

The Guardian - Sport

Northern Ireland's Crusaders were drawn against Danish side Copenhagen, while the Republic's Dundalk will face HF Hafnarfjordur of Iceland.

The Guardian - Sport

And he must have wondered what the gods had against him when Japan were drawn against Brazil.

The Guardian - Sport

These instruments had a series of rosined wheels that rubbed the strings when they were drawn against them by the action of the keys.

Britannica

PSG, Juventus, Arsenal, City and perhaps Shakhtar Donetsk would fancy themselves on their day if they were drawn against Monaco or Porto, for instance.

The Guardian - Sport

They proved their quality at the start of the first European campaign, when they were drawn against Liverpool, the reigning champions.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were drawn against", ensure the context clearly indicates a selection process, often random, that determines opponents or competitors. For clarity, specify the drawing process, like "In the lottery, they were drawn against...".

Common error

Avoid using "were drawn against" when an active voice construction is more appropriate. For example, instead of "They were drawn against each other", consider "The teams drew against each other" if you want to emphasize the action rather than the result of the draw.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were drawn against" functions as a passive construction typically used to indicate that a team or individual has been randomly selected to compete against another. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. Examples in Ludwig demonstrate its common usage in sports and competitive contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

40%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were drawn against" is a grammatically correct and very common passive voice construction, primarily used in news and media, and on Wikipedia, to report the results of a draw or selection process, particularly in competitive contexts such as sports. Ludwig AI confirms that it's usable in written English. Alternatives like "were matched against" or "were pitted against" can be used to add subtle nuances to the meaning. When using the phrase, ensure the context clearly indicates a selection process. Avoid using it when an active voice construction might be more appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were matched against

Emphasizes the act of pairing or pitting against each other in a competition or contest.

were pitted against

Highlights the confrontational aspect of being placed in opposition to another entity.

were set to face

Indicates an arrangement to encounter or confront someone in the future.

were scheduled to compete with

Focuses on the planning and arrangement of a competitive event.

were selected to play

Underlines the aspect of selection or choosing for participation.

were destined to oppose

Suggests an element of fate or inevitability in the confrontation.

were assigned to challenge

Highlights the role of being given a task or duty to compete against someone.

were slated to battle

Emphasizes the intensity and combative nature of the upcoming encounter.

were chosen as rivals

Stresses the aspect of being intentionally picked as opponents.

were positioned against

Indicates the strategic arrangement of entities in opposition to each other.

FAQs

How is "were drawn against" used in a sentence?

The phrase "were drawn against" is used to indicate that someone or something was randomly selected to compete or be paired with another entity. For example, "Liverpool "were drawn against" Real Madrid in the Champions League quarter-finals".

What does "were drawn against" mean?

It means to be randomly selected to compete against another team, person, or entity in a competition or contest. The phrase often refers to the outcome of a drawing or lottery to determine pairings.

Are there alternatives to saying "were drawn against"?

Yes, you can use phrases like "were matched against", "were pitted against", or "were set to face" depending on the context and desired emphasis.

Is it correct to say "was drawn against" instead of "were drawn against"?

No, it depends on whether you are talking about one team or multiple teams. "Was drawn against" is used when referring to a singular entity (e.g. "The team was drawn against"). "Were drawn against" is used when referring to plural entities (e.g. "The teams "were drawn against" each other").