were still sleeping

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were still sleeping" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a state of being in which someone or something is not awake, typically in the past tense. Example: "When I checked on the kids, I found that they were still sleeping peacefully in their beds."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

35 human-written examples

People were still sleeping.

The New York Times

"We were still sleeping together," I said.

The New Yorker

Her son and her husband were still sleeping.

The New York Times

I find out he got married while we were still sleeping together.

The Washington Post

When she arrived home early Saturday, her sons, ages 4 and 7, were still sleeping, relatives said.

The Washington Post

KABUL, Afghanistan — The guests were still sleeping when the gunmen, dressed in police uniforms, arrived early Wednesday.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

25 human-written examples

Jack, by the way, was still sleeping.

The New Yorker

I think I'm still sleeping".

The New York Times - Sports

I'm still sleeping on the floor.

Harvard University

He's still sleeping with a hooker".

The New York Times - Books

"She's still sleeping," Angel whispers.

The Guardian - Film

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were still sleeping" to describe a past state of being asleep, especially when emphasizing that others were already awake or active. For example, "While the city was bustling, many residents "were still sleeping".

Common error

Avoid using "were still sleeping" to describe a current or future state. The phrase is in the past continuous tense, so use it to talk about actions that were ongoing in the past. For example, don't say "They were still sleeping now"; instead, say "They are still sleeping now."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were still sleeping" functions as a verb phrase in the past continuous tense. It describes an action or state of being (sleeping) that was ongoing at a specific time in the past. Ludwig AI validates this usage with numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Academia

25%

Science

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "were still sleeping" is a grammatically correct and commonly used verb phrase in the past continuous tense. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it describes an ongoing state of sleep at a specific time in the past, often to provide context or explain someone's unawareness. It is primarily found in neutral to formal contexts, especially in news and media, as well as academic writing. Related phrases include "remained asleep" and "were fast asleep". When using the phrase, ensure it aligns with past tense narratives and avoids incorrect subject-verb agreements.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were yet asleep

Emphasizes the continued state of being asleep at a particular time.

were fast asleep

Emphasizes the depth and intensity of the sleep.

were sound asleep

Similar to 'fast asleep', indicating a deep and undisturbed sleep.

remained asleep

Highlights the continuation of the sleep state.

were still in bed

Focuses on the location of being asleep, specifically in bed.

were not yet awake

Focuses on the absence of being awake, implying still in a state before wakefulness.

were still dozing

Suggests a light sleep or nap rather than a deep sleep.

had not yet awakened

Formal way of indicating that someone hadn't woken up yet.

were still unconscious

Indicates a state of being unaware, possibly due to sleep or other reasons.

were still slumbering

Uses a more formal or poetic term for sleeping.

FAQs

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

You can use "were still sleeping" to describe a situation in the past when someone or a group of people had not yet woken up. For instance, "When the fire started, most of the residents "were still sleeping"".

What are some alternatives to "were still sleeping"?

Alternatives include phrases like "remained asleep", "were fast asleep", or "had not yet awakened", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "was still sleeping" instead of "were still sleeping"?

No, "was still sleeping" is for singular subjects (e.g., he, she, it), whereas "were still sleeping" is for plural subjects (e.g., they, we) or the singular "you". For example, "He was still sleeping" is correct, but "They were still sleeping" is also correct.

What is the difference between "were still sleeping" and "were already sleeping"?

"Were still sleeping" indicates that someone had not yet woken up at a specific time in the past, while "were already sleeping" indicates that they were asleep before a certain event or time. The former implies a continuation of sleep, and the latter implies a prior state of sleep.