were thrown

USAGE SUMMARY

"were thrown" is a correct part of a sentence in written English.
It is in the past participle form of the verb "throw", which is used when discussing an action that has already happened. Example sentence: The leaves were thrown by the wind onto the street.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Legos were assembled and Frisbees were thrown.

Huffington Post

Punches were thrown.

The New York Times

Glass bottles were thrown.

The New Yorker

No flags were thrown.

The New York Times - Sports

Stones were thrown.

The Economist

Martinis were thrown.

The New Yorker

Stones were thrown at them.

The Economist

No chess pieces were thrown.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

They were thrown-like rocks.

MIT Technology Review

Eventually punches were thrown.

The Guardian

Punches were thrown, profanities exchanged.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were thrown" in passive voice constructions to emphasize the object or recipient of the action rather than the actor. This is particularly useful in scientific or news contexts where the agent is unknown or irrelevant.

Common error

Avoid using "was thrown" when referring to multiple objects or subjects. Remember that "were" is the plural form of "was", so it should be used with plural nouns.

Linguistic Context

Were thrown functions as the past passive form of the verb "throw". This construction indicates that the subject of the sentence received the action, rather than performing it. According to Ludwig AI, this is a correct and common grammatical structure. Examples in Ludwig illustrate its use across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

56%

Science

18%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were thrown" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive construction in English. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread usage. It effectively conveys an action performed on an object, suitable for various contexts, from formal news reports and scientific articles to more informal discussions. Remember to use it with plural subjects and avoid confusion with similar-sounding phrases like "was thrown". The phrase sees high usage in "News & Media" and "Science", with less common usage in more business oriented text.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were cast

Focuses on the act of projecting or directing something, similar to throwing but potentially implying a more deliberate action.

were hurled

Implies a forceful and violent throwing motion.

were pitched

Suggests a specific type of throwing, often with a particular aim or purpose.

were tossed

Indicates a light or casual throwing action.

were discarded

Focuses on the act of getting rid of something, emphasizing its lack of value or usefulness.

were ejected

Suggests a forceful removal or expulsion.

were expelled

Similar to ejected, but potentially implying a more formal or official removal.

were launched

Implies a planned or deliberate sending of something, often with a specific trajectory or destination.

were propelled

Focuses on the force or mechanism used to move something forward.

were shed

Implies the act of discarding something, sometimes naturally or unintentionally.

FAQs

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

"Were thrown" is used in the passive voice to describe an action that was performed on a subject. For example, "The documents "were thrown" away after the project ended".

What can I say instead of "were thrown"?

You can use alternatives like "were discarded", "were ejected", or "were hurled" depending on the specific context.

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

Use "was thrown" for singular subjects and ""were thrown"" for plural subjects. For example, "The ball was thrown" versus "The balls "were thrown"".

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

"Were thrown" indicates a simple past passive action, while "had been thrown" indicates a past perfect passive action. The latter implies that the action of throwing occurred before another point in the past.