were still playing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were still playing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an ongoing action in the past, indicating that the playing was happening at a specific time or during a particular event. Example: "When I arrived at the party, they were still playing the game."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

General Conversation

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Bubble tunes were still playing.

The New York Times

Her tennis friends were still playing.

The New York Times - Sports

They were still playing baseball.

The Guardian - Sport

But Rangers were still playing hopeful football.

The Guardian - Sport

Some of their children were still playing with ours.

The New Yorker

Musicians were still playing jazz, but mainly along the margins.

The New York Times - Arts

U2 were still playing in Dublin's Dandelion Market.

The Times

But by last night, the complications were still playing out.

The New York Times

While many of his peers were still playing with toys, Flynn McGarry was creating gastronomic delights at home.

Stanford University

Eight-year-old boys were still playing on full-sized pitches.

Independent

At that time, Ricky and his dad were still playing darts together every Thursday.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were still playing" to indicate an action that started in the past and continued up to a specific point in time, providing context about the duration or unexpected continuation of the activity.

Common error

Avoid using "were still playing" when the action has definitively stopped with no expectation of resumption. In such cases, use "had been playing" or "used to play" to reflect a completed action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were still playing" functions as a past continuous verb phrase, indicating an action that was in progress at a specific time in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it correctly portrays an ongoing action. The examples show various contexts, from sports to general activities.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Sports

25%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Science

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were still playing" is a past continuous verb phrase used to describe an action that was ongoing at a specific time in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability in various contexts. The phrase is commonly found in news and media, sports reporting, and general conversation. Remember to use this phrase when you want to emphasize the continuation of an activity and provide context about its duration. Be mindful of tense to prevent errors, and consider using alternatives like "were continuing to play" for a more formal tone. The widespread use of "were still playing" across authoritative sources indicates its acceptance and relevance in contemporary English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were continuing to play

Emphasizes the continuous nature of the playing activity.

were in the process of playing

Highlights the ongoing action as a process.

had not stopped playing

Focuses on the lack of cessation of the playing.

were actively playing

Stresses the active involvement in the playing activity.

remained playing

Indicates that the state of playing persisted.

were still engaged in playing

Highlights involvement and participation in the activity.

were yet to finish playing

Implies the playing was not complete.

were ongoing with their game

Rephrases playing into 'their game' to provide the game context.

were still at it

Informal way of saying the playing was continuing.

had not concluded their play

Emphasizes the lack of completion of the playing session.

FAQs

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

You can use "were still playing" to describe an action that began in the past and continued for some time. For example, "Even after midnight, the children "were still playing" in the garden."

What's a more formal way to say "were still playing"?

In a more formal context, you could say "were continuing to play" or "remained playing" to maintain a professional tone.

What's the difference between "were still playing" and "had been playing"?

"Were still playing" indicates the action was ongoing at a specific past time. "Had been playing" indicates the action occurred over a period of time before another past action or point. For example, "They "were still playing" when I arrived," versus "They "had been playing" for hours before I arrived."

What are some alternatives to "were still playing" to indicate the action continued?

Some alternatives include "were in the process of playing", "had not stopped playing", or, more informally, "were still at it".