⚡ Black Friday Offer: Click here and shop now!

TextRanch

The best way to perfect your writing.

Discover why 1,062,726 users count on TextRanch to get their English corrected!

1. Input your text below.
2. Get it corrected in a few minutes by our editors.
3. Improve your English!

One of our experts will correct your English.

Our experts

All they did was vs All they did were

The correct phrase is 'all they did was.' 'Was' is used because 'all they did' is a singular action, so it requires a singular verb. 'Were' is incorrect in this context.

Last updated: March 26, 2024 • 6353 views

All they did was

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is used to emphasize that the only action taken by a group of people was a particular one. 'Was' is the correct verb to use in this context because 'all they did' is a singular action.

Examples:

  • All they did was complain about the situation.
  • All they did was eat pizza and watch movies.
  • All they did was try to help.
  • All they did was talk about their plans.
  • All they did was wait for the bus.
  • All they did was tell lies.
  • All they did was give birth to me.
  • All they did was rule out a heart attack.
  • But what he didn't tell you is... all they did was put Nick on a plane to Seattle.
  • All they did was give me his effects.
  • About all they did was take out a couple of hedges.
  • No, I mean, all the other doctors, all they did was obsess on the cancer, the treatment, the damage.
  • Really all they did was they gave it a fresh coat of bright paint, a gourmet grocery, and they put up a restaurant in the old post office.
  • All they did was give birth to me.
  • All they did was look online.
  • All they did was tell lies.
  • All they did was shoot up a neighbourhood, wake a few cops.
  • All they did was hold her boyfriend's jacket in the corner.
  • All they did was save me some gas.
  • All they did was fight with each other over the money.
  • All they did was fight with each other over the money.
  • - All they did was bicker and fight.
  • All they did was hire a bunch of minimum-wage white guys to follow the black employees around...
  • All they did was rule out a heart attack.
  • All they did was chase me. That's all.

Alternatives:

  • The only thing they did was
  • Their sole action was
  • Their only activity was
  • Their single task was
  • Their exclusive deed was

All they did were

This phrase is incorrect in English.

  • They had the whole house to themselves last night, and all they did were chores.

Related Comparisons

What Our Customers Are Saying

Our customers love us! We have an average rating of 4.79 stars based on 283,125 votes.
Also check out our 2,100+ reviews on TrustPilot (4.9TextRanch on TrustPilot).

Why choose TextRanch?

Lowest prices
Up to 50% lower than other online editing sites.

Fastest Times
Our team of editors is working for you 24/7.

Qualified Editors
Native English experts for UK or US English.

Top Customer Service
We are here to help. Satisfaction guaranteed!

×

⚡️ Black Friday 2024 ⚡️

Stock up on credits for the entire year!

Grab this offer now!