were really impressed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were really impressed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express admiration or appreciation for something that has been experienced or observed in the past. Example: "After the presentation, we were really impressed by the innovative ideas shared by the team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

28 human-written examples

"We were really impressed".

The New York Times

"Our winemakers were really impressed with the quality of what was growing there," Prigge said.

The Guardian

"We were really impressed with the performing-arts people," Anderson said.

The New Yorker

"We were really impressed with the work and the school's conceptual approach to design," Mr. Trimarchi recalled.

The New York Times - Arts

They were really impressed with the show, and they invited myself, Cheri [Oteri], Chris and Jennifer Coolidge to New York.

The New York Times - Arts

Where is that?' But we were really impressed by the product mix, the intentional aspect of it, and the big emphasis on local businesses".

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

30 human-written examples

He's really impressed me".

The Guardian - Sport

And I'm really impressed.

The Guardian

"I was really impressed," Ma says.

The New Yorker

Plus, your kids will be really impressed.

The New York Times

I was really impressed by the balance.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were really impressed" to convey genuine positive feedback or admiration based on past experiences or observations. It's effective for expressing satisfaction with a performance, quality, or outcome.

Common error

While "really" intensifies the adjective, overuse can weaken your writing, especially in formal settings. Consider stronger adjectives or rephrasing to avoid sounding repetitive. For example, instead of "were really impressed", you might say "were remarkably impressed" or "were astonished".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were really impressed" functions as a subject complement, describing the state or feeling of the subject. It indicates a positive reaction or admiration towards something or someone. Ludwig AI provides examples demonstrating its use in various sentences.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "were really impressed" is a common and grammatically correct way to express positive admiration or satisfaction. Ludwig AI validates that it's usable in written English across various contexts, particularly in news and media. While generally neutral in tone, consider stronger adjectives or more formal alternatives in professional or academic settings to avoid overuse of "really". Remember to use "were" for plural subjects and "was" for singular subjects. The abundance of examples from Ludwig shows that using similar expressions like "were very impressed" or "were astonished" can add nuance to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were very impressed

Similar in meaning but uses "very" instead of "really", indicating a slight difference in emphasis.

were extremely impressed

Emphasizes a higher degree of admiration using "extremely".

were greatly impressed

Uses "greatly" to convey a significant level of positive feeling.

were truly impressed

Highlights the sincerity of the admiration.

were quite impressed

Indicates a noticeable level of admiration, but perhaps less intense than "really".

were favorably impressed

Highlights that the impression was positive or advantageous.

were remarkably impressed

Suggests the impression was noteworthy or exceptional.

were astonished

Expresses a stronger sense of surprise and admiration.

were amazed

Indicates a feeling of wonder and deep admiration.

were awestruck

Implies a profound feeling of reverence and admiration.

FAQs

What can I say instead of "were really impressed"?

You can use alternatives like "were very impressed", "were extremely impressed", or "were astonished" depending on the context.

Is "were really impressed" formal or informal?

"Were really impressed" is generally considered neutral to slightly informal. While acceptable in many contexts, more formal alternatives like "were greatly impressed" or "were remarkably impressed" may be preferred in professional or academic writing.

How to use "were really impressed" in a sentence?

You can use "were really impressed" to express positive feelings about something you experienced or observed. For example: "We were really impressed with their presentation skills" or "The judges were really impressed by the originality of her work".

Which is correct, "were really impressed" or "was really impressed"?

"Were really impressed" is used for plural subjects (e.g., "We were really impressed"), while "was really impressed" is used for singular subjects (e.g., "I was really impressed").