were invited

USAGE SUMMARY

"were invited" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you are talking about the past tense of the verb "to invite". For example, "They were invited to the party but they couldn't attend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They were invited.

The New York Times - Sports

No players were invited.

The New York Times - Sports

Spouses were invited.

The New York Times

All residents were invited.

The New York Times

Passers-by were invited in.

The New York Times

"We were invited in.

The Guardian - Sport

No Republicans were invited.

The New York Times

"We were invited here.

The Guardian

They were invited by Reps.

The Washington Post

None of her feminist comrades were invited.

The New Yorker

Unusually, outsiders were invited to see it.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing, ensure the context clearly indicates who did the inviting. For instance, "They were invited by the committee" provides clarity.

Common error

Avoid using "were invited to" without a clear understanding of passive voice. Ensure that the sentence indicates who extended the invitation; otherwise, the meaning might be incomplete or confusing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were invited" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that the subject received an invitation from an unspecified or previously mentioned actor. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Science

38%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were invited" is a commonly used and grammatically correct passive verb phrase that conveys the act of receiving an invitation. Ludwig AI analysis confirms its frequent appearance in news, scientific, and academic contexts. When using the phrase, ensure the context clarifies who extended the invitation. For alternatives, consider "had been asked" or "were requested to attend". Pay attention to the number agreement (was vs. were) and the clarity of who extended the invitation to avoid common errors. Ludwig's examples demonstrate the phrase's versatility across various writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were asked to participate

Focuses on the act of asking to participate.

had been asked

Focuses on the act of asking, rather than the formal invitation.

were requested to attend

Emphasizes a formal request to be present.

received an invitation

Highlights the receipt of an invitation, shifting focus to the recipient.

were welcomed

Implies a general welcoming, potentially less formal than an invitation.

were permitted to join

Focuses on permission being granted to participate.

were given access

Highlights that they were granted entry.

were authorized to enter

Indicates official authorization to enter or participate.

were cleared to participate

Focuses on clearance to engage.

had been summoned

Implies a more formal or official directive than a simple invitation.

FAQs

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

You can use "were invited" to indicate that someone received an invitation. For example, "The guests were invited to the gala" or "All students were invited to participate in the survey".

What are some alternatives to saying "were invited"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "had been asked", "were requested to attend", or "received an invitation".

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

No, "was invited" is singular, while "were invited" is plural. Use "was invited" when referring to a single person or entity and "were invited" for multiple people or entities.

What is the difference between "were invited" and "were welcome"?

"Were invited" implies a specific invitation was extended, while "were welcomed" suggests a general acceptance or reception without a formal invitation. For example, "They were invited to the wedding" is more specific than "They were welcome at the community event".