they are both vs they were both

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'They are both' is used to talk about two or more things that currently share a common characteristic. 'They were both' is used to refer to two or more things that shared a common characteristic in the past.

Last updated: March 19, 2024 • 1254 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"they are both"

This phrase is used to indicate that two or more things currently share a common characteristic.

Examples:

They are both excellent students.
They are both wearing blue shirts.
They are both very talented musicians.

Show examples from the web [+]

And they are both very careful about how they manage themselves at work.
For clarity, they are both adopted.
Also they are both related to the trade negotiations following the launch of these in Doha.
But now, they are both gone!
This distinction is not realistic, for they are both run by one and the same leader, namely Mr Nasrallah.
There is a humanitarian dimension in the Philippines case, but there is also a clearly political dimension, and they are both fundamental if we want to make progress in the frustrated peace talks.
First, though both systems behave in very complicated ways, they are both based on surprisingly simple mathematical rules.
It really doesn't look anything like it, except for the fact that they are both watches and have hands and tell time.
They live near the park, Rue Jean Buridan, and they are both sure they saw Bourg out walking in that park during our timeframe.
It is as if one were to talk about human rights and human diseases in a block because they are both 'human', which is not a very good idea.
As regards the peace process in the Middle East, they are both committed to working towards a peaceful solution in line with the road map.
My constituent has told me that his wife has a Bulgarian Residence Card and that they are both residents of Bulgaria.
Aside from the fact that they are both criminals, what do these two have in common?
Violent resistance and nonviolent resistance share one very important thing in common; they are both a form of theater seeking an audience to their cause.
As we know, they are both highly competent and gifted, but the direction in which they want to take the European Union is not necessarily the one that I am in favour of.
We do not know and we do not claim to know, nor do we presume to tell Parliament that one kind of research is better than another: they are both valuable.
Two technologies are complements as opposed to substitutes when they are both required to produce the product or carry out the process to which the technologies relate.
Two technologies [68] are complements as opposed to substitutes when they are both required to produce the product or carry out the process to which the technologies relate.
For the purposes of this Article, counterparties shall be considered to be included in the same consolidation when they are both either:
They are both very clear and easy to understand.

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"they were both"

This phrase is used to indicate that two or more things shared a common characteristic in the past.

Examples:

They were both classmates in high school.
They were both interested in the same hobby.
They were both very close friends.

Show examples from the web [+]

When they were both normal, I played both characters using a split-screen effect.
Apparently, they were both pretty excited.
So they were both killed with a tactical tomahawk.
Before you came here I had two friends who helped me and they were both murdered.
I thought they were both pork chops.
I guess they were both sick, needed a lot of attention.
Adam and Kelly, they were both insane.
Next time I looked over they were both gone.
And cell phone records confirm that they were both in Falls Church.
I'm still wondering why they were both at Jason's house.
Looks like they were both for negligence.
Unfortunately, they were both horses.
And they were both finalists for the same fellowship.
So, we know at some point they were both out of the car.
Worse. Annika called and said they were both on the short list.
They met when they were both being treated at mayo last year.
But the thing is, Lynley drowned on dry land, Dolly died of fright, and they were both connected to you.
Actually, they were both signed for and hired on the same credit card.
I went in to get help, and one of the security guards came out, but when he got here, they were both gone.
And they were both killed on the same day...

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they are both vs they were both

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