were given back

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were given back" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when referring to something that was returned to someone or restored to its original owner or place. Example: "After the investigation, the stolen items were given back to their rightful owners."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

In 1947 the loges were given back to independent India.

Britannica

About an hour later, we were given back our belongings.

The New York Times

All of the envelopes were given back to the Williamsons, the police said.

The New York Times

By the time we were given back our belongings – unlaced shoes, notebooks, phones – we'd become momentary media celebrities.

The Guardian

Still, the porthole lights live on: they were given back to the management of the apartment building above the restaurant.

The New York Times

What he wrote was removed each evening and then, it seems, handed back to him in the morning, or parts were given back to him to revise.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

His passport was given back to him.

The New York Times

The Cup should be given back.

The Guardian - Sport

"The balance of the story has been given back.

The New York Times

The deal complete, Mr. Ghorzang was given back his pistol.

The New York Times

The very small fish are given back to the sea.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were given back", ensure it is clear who initially gave the item and to whom it is being returned to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "was given back" when referring to multiple items; use "were given back" to maintain proper grammatical agreement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were given back" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject received something that had previously been given. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

32%

Academia

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were given back" is a grammatically correct and commonly used passive construction that indicates the return or restoration of something to a previous owner or state. As Ludwig AI confirms, it fits well in various contexts, particularly in news, science, and academic writing. Pay attention to subject-verb agreement and the nuances of meaning compared to similar phrases like "were returned" or "were restored" for precise communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were returned

Focuses directly on the act of returning without necessarily implying a previous giving action.

were restored

Emphasizes the act of bringing something back to a former condition or place.

were handed back

Highlights the physical act of transferring something back to someone's possession.

were reverted

Suggests a return to a previous state or condition, often automatically.

were refunded

Specifically refers to the return of money.

were reimbursed

Specifically denotes the return of money spent, often in a business context.

were relinquished

Suggests a formal or official return of something, often rights or control.

were ceded back

Indicates the return of territory or rights, often in a political context.

were turned over

Implies a transfer of responsibility or control back to someone.

were retrieved

Focuses on the action of recovering something, with an implication of difficulty.

FAQs

How to use "were given back" in a sentence?

The phrase "were given back" is used to indicate that something was returned to someone or restored to its original owner or place. For example: "After the investigation, the stolen items "were given back" to their rightful owners."

What can I say instead of "were given back"?

You can use alternatives like "were returned", "were restored", or "were handed back" depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "was given back" or "were given back"?

"Were given back" is used for plural subjects, while "was given back" is used for singular subjects. Ensure you use the correct form based on the subject of your sentence.

What's the difference between "were given back" and "were returned"?

While both phrases indicate a return, "were given back" implies a prior act of giving, whereas "were returned" is a more general term for something being sent back.