were took

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were took" is not correct in written English.
The correct form would be "were taken." Example: "The documents were took to the meeting."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

Of course, asking ourselves what kind of parents we were took a lot longer.

The New York Times - Magazine

Six stiffened composite panel configurations, which were orthogonally designed with two skin configurations and three I-shape stiffener configurations, were took into account in the experimental investigation.

Composite Structures

What was most striking about this Balenciaga show was that Wang, as it were, took the game to the opposition.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In order to decrease the problem complexity, Control Cell Core load strategy was implemented; in the same way, intermediate axial positions and core eighth symmetry were took into account.

Annals of Nuclear Energy

Her 2017 piece Is There No Seeker of Dreams That Were? took its title from the American poet Cale Young Rice's New Dreams for Old, and sought instrumental colours to reflect his themes of loss and grief.

The Guardian - Music

The challenge was to produce it at a time of day when stories were still developing, few pictures were available and the film of those that were took time to be developed, in the era before videotape.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

42 human-written examples

Vast spoils were taken.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Attendees were taken aback.

The New York Times

All were taken.

The New York Times - Arts

People were taken aback".

The New York Times - Sports

His goods were taken.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the past participle form of the verb 'take' which is 'taken' when constructing the passive voice in the past tense. The correct form is 'were taken'.

Common error

Avoid using "were took" by remembering that 'took' is the simple past tense, not the past participle. Use 'taken' with auxiliary verbs like 'were' to form the passive voice.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were took" is an incorrect conjugation of the verb "take" in the past tense. It attempts to form the passive voice but uses the simple past "took" instead of the past participle "taken". Ludwig AI confirms it's ungrammatical.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "were took" is a grammatical error; the correct passive past form is "were taken". As Ludwig AI indicates, using the incorrect form undermines clear communication. Alternatives such as "were captured" or "were seized" are suitable replacements, maintaining grammatical accuracy and conveying the intended meaning. Always ensure the use of the past participle "taken" with auxiliary verbs to form the passive voice correctly.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were captured

Replaces the incorrect "took" with the correct past participle "captured", suggesting that someone or something was seized or caught.

were seized

Similar to "were captured", emphasizing the act of taking something forcefully or officially.

were apprehended

Implies a more formal or legal context of being caught or arrested.

were obtained

Suggests a more general acquisition, without necessarily implying force or capture.

were received

Indicates that something was given or presented and then accepted.

were confiscated

Specifically refers to the taking of something by an authority, often due to a violation of rules or laws.

were removed

Indicates that something was taken away or displaced from a location.

were selected

Implies a choice or picking out from a larger group.

were chosen

Synonymous with "were selected", indicating a decision was made to take or pick something.

were acquired

A formal term suggesting gaining possession of something, often through effort or investment.

FAQs

What is the correct grammatical form instead of "were took"?

The correct grammatical form is "were taken". This uses the auxiliary verb "were" with the past participle "taken" to form the passive voice.

How do I use "were taken" in a sentence?

Use "were taken" when referring to something that was acted upon in the past. For example, "The prisoners "were taken" to the jail".

What other phrases can I use instead of "were took"?

Alternatives include phrases like "were captured", "were seized", or "were apprehended depending" on the context.

Is "were took" ever correct in English?

No, "were took" is not grammatically correct in standard English. The past participle "taken" should be used with the auxiliary verb "were".