were taken from

USAGE SUMMARY

"were taken from" is correct and can be used in written English.
Example: All of the items in the collection were taken from the local flea market.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

horses were taken from her.

The New York Times - Sports

Some pictures were taken from a helicopter.

The New York Times

The dishes were taken from a cupboard.

The New York Times

No DNA samples were taken from them.

The New York Times

Four samples were taken from each plot.

Cornell University

Ships' images were taken from yahoo website.

Cornell University

The neurons were taken from normal mice.

Columbia University

Photographs were taken from an A.A.F.

Nature

Melanoma tissues were taken from patients.

Nature

Expression data were taken from ref. 53.

Nature

The homologous sequences were taken from EnsEMBL56.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "were taken from", ensure the context clearly indicates the source and the manner in which the items were removed or obtained. For example, specify if items were legally acquired, sampled, or confiscated.

Common error

Avoid using "were taken from" in situations where active voice would provide a clearer and more direct description of who performed the action. For instance, instead of "Samples were taken from the site", consider "Researchers took samples from the site."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were taken from" functions as a passive verb phrase. It indicates that a subject (often unstated) performed the action of taking something from a particular source. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its usage across various domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

32%

Academia

18%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were taken from" is a versatile phrase used to indicate the source of something that has been removed or obtained. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and provides numerous real-world examples. While the phrase is common across various registers, it's important to consider whether the active voice would provide a clearer and more direct description. Alternatives like "were obtained from" or "were sourced from" can be used depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were sourced from

Emphasizes the origin or provider of something.

were obtained from

Highlights the act of acquiring something from a specific place.

were extracted from

Implies a process of removing something from a larger entity.

were derived from

Focuses on the origin or base from which something originated or developed.

were drawn from

Suggests selecting or pulling something from a source.

were acquired from

Highlights the process of gaining possession of something.

were collected from

Implies a systematic gathering of items from a location.

were gathered from

Suggests a less formal or structured collection process.

originated from

Emphasizes the point of origin or beginning of something.

stemmed from

Indicates a causal relationship where something arose or resulted from a source.

FAQs

How can I use "were taken from" in a sentence?

Use "were taken from" to indicate that something was removed or obtained from a specific source or location. For example: "The artifacts "were taken from" the museum's collection."

What are some alternatives to saying "were taken from"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "were obtained from", "were sourced from", or "were extracted from".

Is it better to use active or passive voice with "were taken from"?

While "were taken from" is grammatically correct, using the active voice (e.g., "someone took from") can often make your writing clearer and more direct, especially when it's important to identify who performed the action.

What is the difference between ""were taken from"" and "originated from"?

"Were taken from" implies removal or extraction, while "originated from" indicates the source or beginning of something.