were yet to be

USAGE SUMMARY

"were yet to be" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
This phrase is used to indicate something that is still going to happen in the future. For example, "The final results of the test were yet to be seen."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Developed countries were yet to be convinced that the environmental threat was real.

Nature

The words classic, smooth, brunch and cruise were yet to be hooked up to it.

The New York Times - Arts

The government would not proceed with conditional funding offers that were yet to be contracted.

The Guardian - Money

Her aides said those details were yet to be worked out.

The New York Times

But many more of Cheever's words were yet to be published.

The New York Times - Books

When asked how many were yet to be arrested, he replied: "There might be a couple".

The Guardian

Photographs were yet to be hung and the shelves were bare.

The New York Times

However, scientific data on permanent damage are rare and typical localisations of injuries were yet to be defined.

Brain Research

The bodies of the remaining three victims – two men and a woman – were yet to be publicly identified.

The Guardian

Mr. Donovan said that the full effects of the economic crisis on homelessness were yet to be determined.

The New York Times

Salmond's stunning victory in May 2011 had made a referendum inevitable, but its details were yet to be determined.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "were yet to be" to emphasize that something is pending or has not been initiated at a specific point in time. It adds a sense of anticipation or incompleteness to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "was yet to be" when referring to multiple subjects or plural nouns. The correct form for plural subjects is "were yet to be".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were yet to be" functions as a verbal phrase indicating that an action or state had not occurred or been completed at a specific point in time. Ludwig confirms its proper usage in numerous contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

18%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "were yet to be" is a versatile verbal phrase used to indicate that something had not occurred or been completed at a specific time. According to Ludwig, its usage is grammatically correct and common across various contexts, particularly in news and media, as well as scientific writing. When using this phrase, ensure that the subject is plural to maintain grammatical accuracy. Alternatives include "had not yet been" or "remained to be", depending on the intended nuance. Overall, "were yet to be" is a valuable tool for expressing anticipation, incompleteness, or pending action in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had not yet been

Focuses on the completion status from a past perspective.

remained to be

Emphasizes the continuation of a need for something to occur.

still needed to be

Highlights the necessity of future action.

were still to be

Emphasizes the continuation of a need for something to occur.

had to be

Conveys a sense of obligation or necessity.

were going to be

Implies a future intention or plan.

were scheduled to be

Indicates a planned or expected future event.

were to be

Expresses a future arrangement or expectation.

were about to be

Suggests that something was on the verge of happening.

were destined to be

Implies a preordained future event.

FAQs

How can I use "were yet to be" in a sentence?

Use "were yet to be" to indicate actions or events that had not occurred up to a certain point but were expected or planned to happen. For example, "The details of the agreement "were yet to be finalized"".

What's a simpler alternative to "were yet to be"?

Alternatives include "had not yet been", "remained to be", or "still needed to be", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to use "was yet to be" instead of "were yet to be"?

"Was yet to be" is used for singular subjects, while "were yet to be" is for plural subjects. For example, "The decision was yet to be made," but "The decisions were yet to be made".

What is the difference between "were yet to be" and "were going to be"?

"Were yet to be" suggests something outstanding or unfulfilled, while "were going to be" implies a plan or intention for the future. The former emphasizes the current state of incompleteness, whereas the latter highlights a future action.