were prevented

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were prevented" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone or something was stopped from doing something in the past. Example: "They were prevented from entering the building due to safety concerns."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Hebronites were prevented from travelling abroad.

The Economist

Infection-related complications were prevented.

Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology, Oral Radiology, and Endodontology

Detainees were prevented from attending their hearings, lawyers said.

The New York Times

Movies in those days were prevented from reality.

The New York Times

It was a promise they were prevented from keeping.

The Guardian

Moreover, United Nations officials were prevented from acting as monitors.

The New York Times

Some officers said they were prevented from intervening soon enough.

The New York Times

They were prevented from leaving as the waters rose.

The New York Times

348 visa holders were prevented from boarding US-bound flights.

The Guardian

Their deaths were prevented because we vaccinated their older siblings.

The New York Times

New patients were prevented from enrolling in clinical studies.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were prevented", ensure the sentence clearly indicates who or what was doing the preventing, and who or what was being prevented. Clarity is key for effective communication.

Common error

Avoid passive constructions where the agent of prevention is unclear or omitted. For instance, instead of just stating "Mistakes were prevented", clarify by stating "Careful planning prevented mistakes".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were prevented" functions as a passive verb phrase, indicating that a subject experienced an action that stopped them from performing something. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is a grammatically sound and widely used construction. The examples demonstrate its usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were prevented" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive construction, as Ludwig AI highlights. It effectively conveys that an action or event was stopped from happening. The phrase is versatile, appearing in diverse contexts from News & Media to Scientific research. While ensuring clarity by specifying who or what did the preventing is crucial, it is shown by Ludwig to be a useful way to communicate the blocking of an action.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were stopped

Simple synonym, replacing "prevented" with "stopped" to denote cessation.

were blocked

"Blocked" suggests a physical or metaphorical obstruction.

were hindered

"Hindered" implies that progress was made difficult but not necessarily impossible.

were obstructed

"Obstructed" suggests an impediment that slows or halts movement or progress.

were impeded

"Impeded" is similar to "hindered" and "obstructed", suggesting a slowing down or obstruction of progress.

were averted

"Averted" suggests that a negative outcome was successfully avoided.

were avoided

"Avoided" implies a conscious effort to stay away from something.

were precluded

"Precluded" indicates that something was made impossible.

were prohibited

"Prohibited" suggests a formal ban or restriction.

were restrained

"Restrained" implies that someone or something was held back or controlled.

FAQs

How to use "were prevented" in a sentence?

The phrase "were prevented" indicates that someone or something was stopped from doing something. For example, "The protesters "were prevented" from entering the building."

What can I say instead of "were prevented"?

You can use alternatives like "were stopped", "were blocked", or "were hindered" depending on the context.

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

"Was prevented" is used with singular subjects, while "were prevented" is used with plural subjects. For example, "The accident was prevented" (singular) versus "The accidents "were prevented"" (plural).

What's the difference between "were prevented" and "were avoided"?

"Were prevented" implies that an action was stopped by an external force, whereas "were avoided" suggests a conscious effort to stay away from something. For example, "Mistakes "were prevented" by careful planning," versus "Risks "were avoided" by taking precautions."