were positioned

USAGE SUMMARY

"were positioned" is correct and usable in written English.
It is the past tense of the verb "to position." Example sentence: The fire fighters were positioned on both sides of the burning building.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

His feet were positioned like a skateboarder's.

The New Yorker

Marines were positioned on each side.

The Guardian

Officers were positioned outside the terraced home overnight.

The Guardian

Paramedics were positioned nearby to haul away the wounded.

The New York Times - Magazine

The windows were positioned to maximize water views, she said.

The New York Times

Flags representing America and Britain were positioned behind the fighters.

The New York Times - Sports

For security, he said, several military vehicles were positioned nearby.

The New York Times

Two balcony stages were positioned over the side pillars.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Even the bathtubs were positioned to take in the view.

The New York Times

Patients were positioned in lateral decubitus.

Strategies in Trauma and Limb Reconstruction

Patients were positioned in supine position.

Strategies in Trauma and Limb Reconstruction

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were positioned" when you want to emphasize the specific placement or arrangement of something in a passive voice construction. For example, "The cameras were positioned to capture every angle of the stage."

Common error

Avoid using "were positioned" when an active voice is more appropriate or when the context requires a different tense. For example, instead of "The team were positioned the equipment", use "The team positioned the equipment".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were positioned" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that a subject has been placed or arranged in a specific manner. As Ludwig AI shows, the phrase is often used to describe the physical arrangement of objects, people, or equipment.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

54%

News & Media

37%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were positioned" is a versatile and frequently used passive verb phrase that describes the state of being placed or arranged in a specific way. As shown by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and appears most often in scientific and news contexts. When writing, remember to use it when the arrangement or placement is more important than the actor, and choose more active alternatives if you prefer to highlight who or what did the positioning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were placed

Focuses more on the action of placing something, rather than the state of being positioned.

were situated

Implies a specific location or context where something is located.

were located

Highlights the location of something, often in a geographical sense.

were arranged

Emphasizes the manner in which things were organized or set out.

were set

Simple and direct way of indicating that something was put in a certain place.

were stationed

Suggests a deliberate placement for a specific purpose, often in a military or strategic context.

were aligned

Implies that things were placed in a line or according to a particular orientation.

were arrayed

More formal and literary, suggesting an impressive or decorative arrangement.

were installed

Suggests a permanent or semi-permanent placement, often involving some kind of fitting or fixing.

were mounted

Indicates that things were fixed to a support or surface, often at a height.

FAQs

How is "were positioned" used in a sentence?

"Were positioned" is used to describe the state of being placed or arranged in a specific location or manner. For example, "The chess pieces "were positioned" strategically on the board".

What phrases are similar to "were positioned"?

Similar phrases include "were placed", "were situated", and "were located". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "were positioned"?

The choice depends on the context. Passive voice, using "were positioned", is suitable when the placement is more important than who or what did the positioning. Active voice is better when you want to emphasize the actor, such as "The engineer positioned the sensor".

What is the difference between "were positioned" and "had been positioned"?

"Were positioned" indicates a state in the past, while "had been positioned" indicates a state completed before another point in the past. For example, "The troops "were positioned" by dawn" vs. "The troops "had been positioned" before the enemy arrived".