"we were captured" vs "we were capturing"

Question

"we were captured" vs "we were capturing"

Both phrases are correct, but they convey different meanings. 'We were captured' is in the past simple tense and indicates that someone or something took hold of 'us' in the past. 'We were capturing' is in the past continuous tense and suggests that 'we' were in the process of taking hold of something or someone in the past.

Last Updated: March 26, 2024

This phrase is used in the past simple tense to describe an action that happened in the past. It indicates that 'we' were taken captive or held by someone or something.

Examples:

We were captured by the enemy during the war.
The explorers were captured by the indigenous tribe.
They were captured by the police after the robbery.
The spy was captured by the enemy agents.
The criminals were captured after a long chase.

Alternatives:

We got caught
We were seized
We were apprehended
We were taken prisoner
We were detained

This phrase is used in the past continuous tense to describe an ongoing action that was happening in the past. It suggests that 'we' were actively trying to capture something or someone.

Examples:

We were capturing butterflies in the garden.
The team was capturing the enemy's flag during the game.
They were capturing the beauty of the sunset in their paintings.
The photographer was capturing the essence of the city in his photos.
The researchers were capturing data for their study.

Alternatives:

We were taking hold of
We were seizing
We were apprehending
We were catching
We were ensnaring

Answer 1

we were captured

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate that someone or something took hold of 'us' in the past.

Answer 2

we were capturing

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate that 'we' were in the process of taking hold of something or someone in the past.

"we were captured" vs "we were capturing"

we were captured

we were capturing

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