probably were vs were probably

Both "probably were" and "were probably" are correct and commonly used in English. They are interchangeable, and the choice between them depends on the emphasis or flow of the sentence.

Last updated: April 12, 2024 • 166 views

probably were

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is used when you want to emphasize the likelihood or uncertainty of an action or event that happened in the past.

Examples:

They probably were at the party last night.
The keys probably were on the table.

Show examples from the web [+]

Oct 6, 2022 ... Phillies playoffs: How I was wrong about this team — and you probably were, too. From the manager's style to the leadoff man to the bullpen ...
Mar 4, 2015 ... Justice Dept. concludes that no, Michael Brown's hands probably were not up · Michael Brown likely did reach into Wilson's vehicle and grab the ...
Aug 17, 2013 ... Fire investigators find ambulance fires probably were accidental ... Engine fires in two D.C. fire department ambulances, which are now the ...
Dec 30, 2010 ... Ancient sea scorpions probably were pussycats. Ancient sea scorpions included the largest and arguably most frightening bug-like creatures ...
The earliest mummies from prehistoric times probably were accidental. By chance, dry sand and air (since Egypt has almost no measurable rainfall) preserved ...
Travel histories within the 2 weeks before illness, available for 122 persons, indicated that infections probably were acquired in the Caribbean islands (61 ...
Apr 26, 2009 ... Appleseed, Indian chief probably were pals. Staff Writer. The Columbus Dispatch. The apple trees in Columbus-area orchards will be in bloom ...

Alternatives:

were probably
most likely were
likely were
possibly were
could have been

were probably

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is used when you want to emphasize the likelihood or uncertainty of an action or event that happened in the past.

Examples:

They were probably at the party last night.
The keys were probably on the table.

Show examples from the web [+]

Apr 21, 2022 ... Quarter of U.S. covid deaths were probably preventable with vaccination ... Within weeks, it's likely that the 1,000,000th American will die of ...
Tyrannosaurs were probably cannibals. Latest evidence comes from gnawed-up Cretaceous fossils. 29 Oct 2015; BySid Perkins. Matthew McLain.
Feb 9, 2022 ... Conclusions. The ELP6 and PLIN5 mutations were probably prognostic biomarkers for patients with GC. Keywords: gastric cancer, ELP6 mutation, ...
Nov 9, 2017 ... Mammals were probably night owls when dinosaurs ruled the land ... A bird standing on the side of a snow covered tree. ... Mammals were mainly ...
I have eaten the plums that were in the icebox ; and which you were probably saving for breakfast ; Forgive me they were delicious so sweet and so cold.
Jun 16, 2022 ... Evidence suggests Newsmax knew 2020 election fraud claims 'were probably false,' judge says in Dominion defamation case · A judge has dismissed ...
Mar 26, 2020 ... The major implication of this research is that the earliest dinosaurs were probably primitively scaly like other reptiles.

Alternatives:

probably were
most likely were
likely were
possibly were
could have been

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