were still

USAGE SUMMARY

"were still" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to a continuing or ongoing state or condition in the past. For example: "We had already been working on the project for several months, and were still making progress."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Birds were still chirping.

The New York Times

There were still challenges.

The New York Times

People were still sleeping.

The New York Times

They were still together.

The New York Times

They were still there.

The New York Times - Travel

The children were still.

The New York Times

Some were still afire.

The Guardian - Opinion

People were still arriving.

The New York Times - Books

They were still wet.

The New Yorker

Things were still happening.

The Guardian

Authorities were still investigating.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were still" to clearly indicate that a state or action was ongoing at a specific time in the past. For instance, "Despite the late hour, they "were still" working diligently on the project."

Common error

Avoid using "were still" when referring to a present or future state. It's a past tense construction, so stick to "are still" or "will still be" for those time frames.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were still" functions as an auxiliary verb phrase indicating the continuation of a state or action in the past. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used. The auxiliary verb "were" is combined with the adverb "still" to show that something had not changed at a specific point in the past.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were still" is a versatile verb phrase used to indicate the continuation of a past action or state. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used, particularly in news and media contexts. It is a neutral phrase suitable for various situations. Remember to use "were still" with plural subjects and "was still" with singular subjects. Alternative phrases include "remained" and "continued to be", depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Be careful not to use this phrase when referencing present or future actions. The phrase is very common across a wide range of authoritative sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

continued to be

This phrase is more verbose but explicitly states the ongoing nature of a state.

remained

This alternative uses a single verb to convey the idea of continuing to be in a particular state.

persisted

This word conveys a sense of continuing despite difficulty or resistance.

carried on being

This phrase emphasizes the continuation of an action or state.

were yet

This alternative implies something is ongoing with an expectation of further development.

were in the process of

This highlights that an action or state was ongoing but incomplete.

had not ceased to be

This is a more formal and emphatic way of stating that something was still in a certain state.

endured

This alternative emphasizes the lasting or long-term nature of a state or condition.

sustained

Highlights that whatever is happening is being held or supported as it progresses.

were at it

This implies some kind of activity or mischievousness was ongoing

FAQs

How can I use "were still" in a sentence?

Use "were still" to indicate that an action or state continued up to a certain point in the past. For example, "Even after the storm, the waves "were still high"."

What's a more formal alternative to "were still"?

A more formal alternative could be "continued to be" or "remained". For instance, instead of "They "were still" engaged in negotiations", you could say "They "continued to be engaged in negotiations"".

Which is correct, "were still" or "was still"?

"Were still" is used with plural subjects or with the pronoun "you", while "was still" is used with singular subjects. For example, "They "were still" at the meeting", but "He "was still" at the meeting".

How does the meaning change if I use "are still" instead of "were still"?

Using "are still" shifts the timeframe to the present. "Were still" refers to a past continuing action, while "are still" indicates that something is ongoing now. "They "were still" working yesterday" vs. "They "are still" working today".