when we were children

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "when we were children" is grammatically correct and is commonly used in written English.
For example, "I remember fondly the days when we were children, playing in the park all day long."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

We practiced when we were children.

The New York Times

When we were children, rice was everything.

The New York Times - Arts

They kept us safe from harm when we were children.

The New York Times

"You've no idea what it was like when we were children," she says.

The Guardian

Adulthood lets us see through fictions that seemed like gospel truth when we were children.

The New York Times

You were cousin, Arkie, when we were children and you will be our cousin forever.

The New York Times

I attended a number of her princess parties when we were children.

The Guardian

"I used to sing it with my friends when we were children," he said.

The New York Times - Arts

She always said sorry to us when we were children, and I think that's fantastically important.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"When we were children, we couldn't really tell one place from the other," Julian told me.

The New Yorker

"Let's go back to when we were children and we did word-association games," Weitz said.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "when we were children", ensure the context clearly establishes who 'we' refers to. This avoids ambiguity and keeps the focus on the shared experiences.

Common error

Avoid mixing tenses when using "when we were children". Ensure the subsequent clauses consistently use past tenses to maintain grammatical accuracy and clarity. For example, use 'we played' instead of 'we play'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "when we were children" functions as an adverbial clause of time, modifying the main clause by specifying when the action or state described in the main clause occurred. As Ludwig AI also suggests, it sets the context for past experiences or memories.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "when we were children" is a common and grammatically correct adverbial clause of time used to reference shared memories and experiences from childhood. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is widely used in various contexts, particularly in News & Media, to evoke nostalgia, provide context, or establish a connection with the reader. While it generally maintains a neutral register, alternative phrases like "during our childhood" or "in our formative years" may be preferred in more formal settings. It's important to maintain consistent past tenses when using this phrase to avoid grammatical errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in our childhood

This alternative uses a noun phrase to describe the period, making it slightly more formal than the original.

during our childhood

Similar to 'in our childhood', this uses a prepositional phrase to specify the period, also slightly more formal.

when we were little

This is a more informal and affectionate way to refer to childhood.

when we were younger

This alternative is a more general way to refer to a past time, without specifying childhood.

in our youth

A more concise and evocative way to refer to the period of being young.

in our younger years

This uses a more descriptive and slightly more formal way to refer to a past period.

during our formative years

This alternative emphasizes the developmental aspect of childhood.

back in our youth

This alternative emphasizes the youthful period, implying energy and inexperience.

in our early days

This refers to the initial stages of life, emphasizing the beginning.

as youngsters

This uses a noun to describe the people, making it more concise.

FAQs

How can I use "when we were children" in a sentence?

The phrase "when we were children" introduces a time period in the past, often followed by a description of activities or memories from that time. For example, "When we were children, we used to play in the park until it got dark.

What's a more formal alternative to "when we were children"?

More formal alternatives include "during our childhood" or "in our formative years". These phrases provide a similar meaning but are suitable for academic or professional contexts.

How does "when we were children" differ from "when we were young"?

"When we were children" specifically refers to the period of childhood, while "when we were young" is a broader term that can include adolescence and early adulthood. The former evokes a more specific set of memories and experiences associated with being a child.

Is it grammatically correct to say "when we was children" instead of "when we were children"?

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