were to come

USAGE SUMMARY

"were to come" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can generally be used to indicate a hypothetical or unlikely situation. For example, "If the aliens were to come to Earth, how would we respond?".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Much bigger things were to come.

The Guardian

The key wickets were to come though.

The Guardian - Sport

Time, as it were, to come clean.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Soon the Baroque oboes were to come.

The New York Times - Arts

"But if another good script were to come along......

The New York Times

(Three more tournaments with three near misses were to come).

The Guardian - Sport

But his forays into formal politics were to come much later.

The Guardian

Tall buildings were to come back, but unity on the redevelopment plan remained elusive.

The New York Times

If that model were to come here, it would be a disaster for Williamsburg".

The New York Times

They were to come to dominate sprinting totally on a domestic level.

The Guardian - Sport

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Worse is to come.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were to come" to describe hypothetical scenarios or events that were expected to happen in the future but might not have. This adds a layer of anticipation or potential disappointment.

Common error

Avoid using "were to come" when a simple past tense or past perfect tense would be more appropriate. "Were to come" implies a conditional or hypothetical situation, not a definite past event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were to come" primarily functions as a modal construction, indicating a hypothetical or future event seen from a past perspective. Ludwig AI confirms its usage across various contexts, often implying anticipation or conditionality.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "were to come" is a versatile phrase used to express hypothetical scenarios or anticipated events from a past perspective. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's grammatically sound and commonly found in various contexts, particularly in news and media. While alternatives like "was going to happen" or "might have arisen" exist, "were to come" uniquely conveys a blend of anticipation and conditionality. When writing, remember to use it for events expected in the future but not guaranteed, and avoid it when a simple past tense suffices. Understanding these nuances ensures clarity and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was going to happen

Focuses on a planned or intended event in the past that did not necessarily occur.

was anticipated to materialize

Emphasizes the expectation or anticipation of something becoming real.

was destined to occur

Implies a sense of fate or inevitability about a future event.

was scheduled to emerge

Highlights the timing and planned emergence of something.

would eventually arise

Emphasizes the certainty and timeline that something will happen.

was slated to arrive

Suggests a scheduled or planned arrival.

would later transpire

Highlights the eventual occurrence and unveiling of something.

was programmed to appear

Indicates a pre-arranged appearance or showing.

might have arisen

Indicates a possibility of something happening or emerging.

could have appeared

Suggests that something had the potential to appear or become visible.

FAQs

How can I use "were to come" in a sentence?

You can use "were to come" to describe a hypothetical situation or an event expected in the past but not certain to happen. For example, "If the investors "were to come", the project would be funded."

What does "were to come" imply about an event?

The phrase "were to come" suggests that the event was possible or expected in the future, but not guaranteed. It adds a sense of conditionality or speculation to the statement.

Which is correct, "were to come" or "was to come"?

"Were to come" is generally used for plural subjects or in hypothetical constructions, while "was to come" is used for singular subjects when describing a scheduled or expected event. For example, "The difficulties "were to come" later," versus "The announcement "was to come" at noon."

What can I say instead of "were to come"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "was going to happen", "was expected to arrive", or "might have arisen" to convey a similar meaning.