were ready to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were ready to" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate preparedness or willingness to take action in the past. Example: "After weeks of preparation, the team were ready to launch the new product."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

We were ready to die.

The New York Times

They were ready to participate.

The New York Times

They were ready to write.

The New York Times

By noon we were ready to fly.

The New York Times

They were ready to return to Hoboken.

The New York Times

They were ready to spend $700,000.

The New York Times

Some candidates were ready to be spontaneous.

The New York Times - Sports

I thought we were ready to play.

The New York Times

Now we were ready to go.

The New York Times

We were ready to move nationally.

The New York Times

They were ready to play.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were ready to" to clearly indicate a state of preparedness or willingness to engage in a specific action or activity in the past.

Common error

Avoid using "were ready to" when referring to a present or future state. Use "are ready to" or "will be ready to" instead to maintain correct tense consistency.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were ready to" functions as a verbal phrase indicating a state of preparedness or willingness to perform an action in the past. Ludwig examples demonstrate its use in various contexts, from being ready to fight to being ready to move nationally.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "were ready to" is a common and grammatically correct way to express past preparedness or willingness to engage in an action. It's frequently found in various contexts, most notably in news and media, and also in science, as demonstrated by Ludwig. The Ludwig AI confirms its general correctness and usability. When using this phrase, ensure correct tense and subject-verb agreement, and consider alternatives like "were prepared to" or "were willing to" to add nuance to your writing. By understanding these points, you can effectively utilize "were ready to" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were prepared to

Focuses on the act of preparing rather than the state of being ready.

were all set to

Indicates that all necessary arrangements have been completed.

were good to go

An informal way of saying they were ready to proceed.

stood poised to

Emphasizes being in a position or state that allows for quick action.

were willing to

Highlights willingness rather than capability.

were about to

Suggests that an action was imminent.

were on the verge of

Implies being at the brink of something happening.

were equipped to

Emphasizes having the necessary tools or resources.

were in a position to

Highlights the capability and opportunity to act.

were game to

An informal expression indicating enthusiasm and readiness.

FAQs

How can I use "were ready to" in a sentence?

You can use "were ready to" to indicate that someone or something was in a state of preparedness to do something in the past. For example, "They "were ready to launch" the project after months of planning".

What are some alternatives to "were ready to"?

Alternatives include phrases like "were prepared to", "were all set to", or "were willing to", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

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

The correct form depends on the subject. Use "was ready to" with singular subjects (e.g., "He was ready to go"), and "were ready to" with plural subjects (e.g., "They were ready to go").

What is the difference between "were ready to" and "were about to"?

"Were ready to" indicates a state of preparedness, while "were about to" suggests that something was imminent or on the verge of happening. The former focuses on preparation, the latter on timing.