were living together

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were living together" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where two or more people cohabitate in the same residence, typically in the context of a romantic relationship or shared living arrangement. Example: "They were living together for several years before deciding to get married."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

A month later, they were living together.

The New York Times

Izzo, Gregory and Boylen were living together.

The New York Times - Sports

By later that year, they were living together.

The New York Times

Then, several months later, they were living together again.

The New York Times - Magazine

"If we weren't married, they'd say we were living together.

The Guardian

Soon they were living together, and they remain partners.

The Guardian

By the next January, they were living together.

The New York Times

By fall 2005, he and Ms. Robbins were living together.

The New York Times

Soon, the two of them were living together in Hartnett's house in Spitalfields.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

There's no initial solidarity, even when they learn their children were living together.

The Guardian - Film

The younger members of my family realised the playwright Barry Reckford and I were living together.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing past relationships or living situations, "were living together" is a clear and direct way to indicate cohabitation. It is suitable for most contexts, from casual to formal.

Common error

Avoid adding unnecessary qualifiers that state the obvious, such as "they were living together in the same house". The phrase itself implies a shared residence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were living together" functions as a verb phrase, specifically a past continuous construction indicating a state of cohabitation. This construction describes an ongoing action in the past. As Ludwig AI points out, this phrase is frequently used and grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Science

1%

Wiki

1%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "were living together" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe cohabitation in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used across various contexts, with a strong presence in News & Media. While versatile, it's important to avoid redundancy and consider alternative phrases like "cohabitated" or "shared a residence" for stylistic variation. The phrase maintains a neutral register, making it suitable for both formal and informal communication. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly indicates the duration and nature of the cohabitation being described.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were cohabitating

A more formal way of saying "were living together".

cohabitated

A single-word alternative, emphasizing the act of living together.

were sharing a home

Highlights the shared aspect of the dwelling as a home.

lived in the same household

Emphasizes the shared domestic environment.

shared a residence

Focuses on the physical aspect of sharing a dwelling.

shared living quarters

Highlights the shared aspect of the accommodation.

had a joint residency

Highlights the formal aspect of living together.

were roommates

Suggests a less intimate, more functional living arrangement.

dwelt together

A more archaic and literary way of saying "were living together".

maintained a common domicile

A formal and legalistic way of expressing cohabitation.

FAQs

What does "were living together" mean?

The phrase "were living together" means that two or more people shared the same residence. It often implies a romantic relationship, but can also refer to platonic roommates or family members.

What can I say instead of "were living together"?

You can use alternatives like "cohabitated", "were cohabitating", or "shared a residence" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "were living together"?

Yes, "were living together" is grammatically correct. The verb "were" agrees with a plural subject (they, we), and "living together" is a present participle phrase acting as the predicate.

How do I use "were living together" in a sentence?

You can use "were living together" to describe a past situation. For example: "They "were living together" for five years before getting married."