were talking

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were talking" is not correct in written English; it should be "we're talking" or "we are talking." You can use it when discussing a conversation or topic that is currently being addressed or has been previously mentioned.
Example: "When we're talking about climate change, it's important to consider all the scientific data available."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"We were talking".

The New York Times

Both were talking nonsense.

The Economist

"We were talking earlier.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"We were talking, smoking.

The Guardian

"They were talking years.

The New Yorker

Suddenly, people were talking.

The Guardian

They were talking salary.

The New York Times - Food

"People were talking about it.

The New York Times

They were talking about integers.

The New York Times

We were talking and watching.

The New Yorker

"They were talking amongst themselves.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to an ongoing conversation in the past, ensure you use the correct subject-verb agreement. Use "we were talking", "they were talking", etc., depending on the subject.

Common error

Avoid using "were talking" without a plural subject like "we", "they", or "you". Using "were" with a singular subject (e.g., "I were talking") is a common grammatical error. Use "was" instead like "I was talking."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were talking" functions as a past continuous verb phrase, indicating an action (talking) that was in progress at a specific time in the past. However, its correctness depends on the subject; it requires a plural subject such as "we", "they", or "you". Ludwig confirms that it requires a plural subject.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

82%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "were talking" is used to describe a continuous conversation in the past, but its correctness depends on using a plural subject like "we", "they", or "you". According to Ludwig, the phrase "were talking" is not correct in written English; it should be "we're talking" or "we are talking." If you are using this phrase to search for sentence usage, it is more likely you are looking for sentences that contains 'we were talking' or other similar subjects. While it is frequently found in various sources like the New York Times, The Guardian, and BBC, you should ensure proper subject-verb agreement to maintain grammatical accuracy. Alternatives like "we "were discussing"" or "we "were conversing"" can be used depending on the desired level of formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we were discussing

Substitutes "talking" with "discussing", which implies a more formal and structured conversation.

we were conversing

Replaces "talking" with "conversing", suggesting a polite and formal exchange of ideas.

we discussed

Simplifies the phrase to past tense, removing the continuous aspect but retaining the core meaning of a past discussion.

we had a conversation

Rephrases the action as having an event (conversation), which can shift the emphasis.

we were chatting

Replaces "talking" with "chatting", indicating a casual and informal conversation.

we communicated

Substitutes "talking" with "communicated", highlighting the exchange of information rather than the conversational aspect.

we spoke

Offers a more direct and simple past tense alternative to "were talking".

we were in dialogue

Uses "dialogue" to emphasize a more structured and purposeful conversation.

we exchanged views

Highlights the exchange of opinions rather than a general conversation.

we were holding discussions

Emphasizes the act of holding multiple or ongoing discussions.

FAQs

How do I correctly use "were talking" in a sentence?

"Were talking" requires a plural subject. For example, you can say "We "were talking" about the project" or "They "were talking" about their vacation plans".

What's the difference between "was talking" and "were talking"?

"Was talking" is used with singular subjects (I, he, she, it), while "were talking" is used with plural subjects (we, you, they). For instance, "I was talking to my friend" versus "We "were talking" about the weather".

Is "were talking" grammatically correct?

The phrase "were talking" is not correct in written English; it should be "we're talking" or "we are talking."

What can I say instead of "we were talking"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "We "were discussing"", "We "were conversing"", or simply "We "discussed"".