what they were doing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "What they were doing" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to ask about someone's activities. For example: I was so curious to know what they were doing in the kitchen.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The Romans knew what they were doing.

The Economist

That's not what they were doing".

The New York Times - Sports

I asked what they were doing.

The New Yorker

"They knew exactly what they were doing".

The New York Times

They really know what they were doing.

The New York Times

"I didn't know what they were doing.

The New Yorker

"They didn't know what they were doing".

The New York Times

We didn't know what they were doing".

The New Yorker

"We knew exactly what they were doing.

The New York Times - Sports

Did they know what they were doing?

The Guardian - Arts

He doesn't know what they were doing".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "what they were doing" when you want to inquire about or describe ongoing activities of a group.

Common error

Avoid using "what they did" when you want to emphasize that the activity was in progress or ongoing. Instead, "what they did" is more appropriate for completed actions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "what they were doing" functions as a noun clause acting as the object of a verb or a subject complement. It describes an activity in progress, focusing on the continuous nature of the action. As Ludwig AI suggests, it's grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "what they were doing" is a versatile phrase used to inquire about or describe ongoing activities. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and wide applicability. It is most commonly found in News & Media contexts but is acceptable in neutral settings. When writing, remember to use "what they were doing" to emphasize an activity in progress, and consider more formal or narrative alternatives like "the nature of their work" or "their actions" as needed. By avoiding confusion with completed actions and understanding the phrase's neutrality, you can effectively incorporate "what they were doing" into your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the things they did

Simplifies the sentence structure, using a more direct phrasing.

their actions

Focuses on the specific actions performed, omitting the progressive aspect of the original phrase.

what they had been up to

Employs a more idiomatic and informal phrasing.

their activities

Replaces "doing" with a broader term, referring to any kind of activity.

what was occurring with them

Uses more formal and indirect language to describe the situation.

their undertaking

Replaces the continuous activity with focus on the final result of the activity.

the nature of their work

Shifts the focus towards the type of work or task being performed.

their line of action

Highlights a planned series of actions or steps taken.

the task at hand

Describes the activity in terms of a specific, immediate task.

the developments in their lives

Focuses on broader changes and events rather than just specific actions.

FAQs

How can I use "what they were doing" in a sentence?

You can use "what they were doing" to ask about or describe the activities of a group. For example, "I was curious about "what they were doing" in the lab".

What's a more formal way to say "what they were doing"?

A more formal alternative is "the nature of their work", which is suitable for professional or academic contexts. However, "what they were doing" is acceptable in most situations.

Is it correct to say "what they are doing" instead of "what they were doing"?

Both are correct, but they have different meanings. "What they are doing" refers to present activities, while "what they were doing" refers to activities in the past. The choice depends on the time frame you're referencing.

What can I say instead of "what they were doing" in a narrative?

In a narrative, you can use alternatives like "their actions" or "their activities" to vary your language and maintain reader engagement.