when they were

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "when they were" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to a specific time in the past when a particular situation or condition existed. Example: "When they were children, they spent every summer at their grandparents' house."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

— when they were developed.

The New York Times - Tech

Only when they were small.

The New York Times

When they were desperate.

The New York Times - Books

When they were settled he kissed her.

The New Yorker

They married when they were twenty.

The New Yorker

The two met when they were teenagers.

Independent

Both were infants when they were engaged.

The New York Times

They know when they were born".

The New York Times

They fell out when they were younger.

Independent

Increasingly, when they were together, they fought.

The New Yorker

They were farmers when they were young.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "when they were" to clearly establish a temporal relationship, setting the scene or providing context for a past event or condition.

Common error

Avoid substituting "when" with "where" unless you are referring to a physical location. "Where they were" indicates location, not time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "when they were" functions as a subordinating conjunction introducing a dependent clause that specifies a time or condition. It's used to provide background information or context for the main clause. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

23%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "when they were" is a grammatically sound and frequently used construction. Ludwig AI indicates that it is correct and usable in written English and is suitable for establishing temporal context. Occurring most often in News & Media, Science and Formal & Business contexts, the phrase functions as a subordinating conjunction. Alternatives include "during the time they were" or "back when they were", but it's important not to confuse it with location-based phrases like "where they were". Overall, "when they were" is a versatile and reliable phrase for expressing past conditions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

back when they were

Adds emphasis to the past time using "back when".

during the time they were

Replaces "when" with "during the time", emphasizing the duration of the state.

previously when they were

Adds emphasis on prior state using the adverb "previously".

at the point they were

Substitutes "when" with "at the point", highlighting a specific moment in the past.

at a time they were

Similar to 'at the point', but less specific.

in the days they were

Implies a period of time, rather than a single moment.

during their years as

Focuses on a specific period where they held a certain role or identity.

in their past

Uses a more general phrase to refer to a time in the past.

in the period they were

More formal than "when they were", indicating a defined period.

while they existed as

Emphasizes the state of being during a certain time.

FAQs

How can I use "when they were" in a sentence?

Use "when they were" to introduce a clause that provides context about a past state or condition. For example, "I remember them "when they were" young".

What are some alternatives to "when they were"?

Alternatives include "during the time they were", "back "when they were"", or "in their past", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "when they was"?

No, "when they was" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is ""when they were"", as "they" is a plural pronoun and requires the plural form of the verb "to be".

What's the difference between "when they were" and "if they were"?

"When they were" indicates a specific time in the past, while "if they were" introduces a hypothetical condition. For example, ""when they were" younger, they enjoyed playing outside" versus "I don't know if they were invited".