were engage

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were engage" is not correct in English.
Did you mean "were engaged"? If this is the case, you can use it to describe a past state of being involved or committed to something, often in a formal or serious context. Example: "They were engaged in a lengthy discussion about the project."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

However, some investigators suggested that as much as 40% of those who were engage in NSSI had thoughts about suicide while inflicting the injury [42], and approximately 50% to 85% of people who injured themselves had attempted suicide at least once during their lifetime [43].

Plosone

When asked whether there were ENGAGE collaborations for which their institution could have contributed data but did not, 11.5% of survey participants reported encountering this problem.

European Journal of Human Genetics

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

They were engaged this spring.

The New Yorker

Last month, they were engaged.

The New York Times

" 'You were engaged,' I said.

The New Yorker

Mormons were engaged in polygamy.

The New York Times

"We were engaged".

The New York Times - Sports

They were engaged June 30.

The New York Times

Both were infants when they were engaged.

The New York Times

They were engaged within a year.

The New Yorker

Six months later, we were engaged.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the past participle form "engaged" after "were" to ensure grammatical correctness when describing a state of involvement or commitment. For example, use "They were engaged in a discussion" instead of "They were engage in a discussion".

Common error

Avoid using the base form of the verb ("engage") after "were". The correct form is the past participle ("engaged"). Using "were engage" makes the sentence grammatically incorrect.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were engage" functions as an incomplete verb phrase. It appears intended to express a past state of being involved or committed, but it misses the necessary past participle form of the verb. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is not grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "were engage" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "were engaged", which is used to describe a past state of being involved, committed, or betrothed. Ludwig AI flags the phrase as incorrect, and it's crucial to use "engaged" instead of "engage" after "were". While some examples containing the phrase exist, they are outnumbered by sources indicating the correct grammatical form. To avoid errors, consider using alternatives such as "were involved in", "were participating in", or "were occupied with" depending on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were engaged

Corrects the grammatical error by using the past participle form of the verb.

were involved in

Replaces "engage" with "involved in" to express participation or commitment.

were participating in

Emphasizes active involvement in an activity or event.

were committed to

Highlights a dedication or pledge towards a cause or activity.

were occupied with

Suggests being busy or engrossed in something.

were engrossed in

Implies being completely absorbed or captivated by something.

were absorbed in

Indicates a state of being deeply immersed or engaged mentally.

were busy with

Focuses on the state of being occupied with tasks or activities.

were working on

Specifies active effort towards a particular project or goal.

were undertaking

Formally indicates the commencement of a project or task.

FAQs

What is the correct form, "were engage" or "were engaged"?

The correct form is "were engaged". "Engaged" is the past participle of the verb "engage" and should be used after the auxiliary verb "were".

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

"Were engaged" indicates a state of being involved, committed, or betrothed in the past. For example, "They "were engaged" in a discussion about the project" or "They "were engaged" to be married".

What can I say instead of "were engage"?

Since "were engage" is grammatically incorrect, you can use phrases like "were involved in", "were participating in", or "were occupied with" depending on the intended meaning.

Is "were engage" ever correct?

No, "were engage" is not grammatically correct in standard English. The correct form is always "were engaged" or an alternative construction that conveys the intended meaning.