We were gathering vs We were gathered

Both phrases are correct, but they have different meanings and are used in different contexts. 'We were gathering' indicates that the speaker and others were actively collecting or assembling something. 'We were gathered' suggests that the speaker and others were already in a gathered or assembled state.

Last updated: March 26, 2024 • 3999 views

We were gathering

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate an ongoing action of collecting or assembling.

This phrase is used to describe an action that was taking place in the past, where the subject and possibly others were actively collecting or assembling something.

Examples:

We were gathering information for the project.
They were gathering flowers in the garden.
The team was gathering data for the research study.

Show examples from the web [+]

All any of us know is that a stranger ran through our mosque being chased by FBI agents while we were gathering for morning prayers.
Indeed, when we were gathering information in order to put this report together, a small number of Member States were not very forthcoming in providing information on how the system functions in their societies, but we did manage to receive an adequate reply in the end.
'If clouds were gathering we could not see them.
I thought you were gathering evidence to prove that.
That's why they were gathering, their target was Oversight.
The Money Changers were gathering strength fast.
For the 2nd Congress of Soviets deIegates were gathering.
As well as needing the brute force of the military, the Government were gathering a crack team hear.
That's why they were gathering, their target was Oversight.
- You said you wanted to know when the storm clouds were gathering.
Several weeks ago, a wire tap caught you calling Colonel Horacio Carrillo to ID a location where Pablo's sicarios were gathering.
My father was convinced that they were gathering support to make a move on the Crown.
She'd found out where the vampires were gathering, and there was going to be a fire.
You were gathering a group of large orderlies to get the light bulb out by doing what?
Meccan pagans were gathering a force of 10,000 men to attack the holy city of Medina with the intent of destroying Islam forever.
We were on PX7 for over 24 hours gathering intel.
It is rare for a politically mixed gathering to be as much in agreement as we were this time.
But on the horizon, dark clouds were gathering, and the storm that was about to hit the pride came in the form of two extremely fit and strong lions.
Because the people who were gathering Brazil nuts weren't the same people who were cutting the forests.
- Brother... it was you who feared that Gerak's followers were gathering strength, that there was a danger that if we did not dissolve this Council, they could still vote to support the unilateral submission to the religion of the Ori.

Alternatives:

We gathered
We have been gathering
We will be gathering
We are gathering

We were gathered

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate that the speaker and others were already in a gathered or assembled state.

This phrase is used to describe a state of being in the past, where the subject and possibly others were already gathered or assembled.

Examples:

We were gathered in the conference room for the meeting.
The students were gathered in the school courtyard for the event.
The family was gathered around the dinner table.

Show examples from the web [+]

Mr President, while we were gathered here on Monday for our last plenary session, events were taking place in Budapest that merit the attention of all Europe.
The last time we were all gathered back here...
There we were, gathered together, gloomy and despondent around that single meager woodcutter.
We were all gathered for the opening.
If this was the case, he should have just died when we were all gathered earlier.
Now in Edinburgh were gathered the council of Scottish nobles.
The greatest warriors of the universe were gathered.
Next door was the block where women were gathered after selection.
These are fossilized bone fragments that were gathered at the bomb site in Dallas.
- As for us, the tribes were gathered.
- The Forty Thieves... the tribes were gathered.
When we arrived, the workers were gathered to welcome us.
Across the island, Michael was escorted to a camp where the others were gathered.
Evidently, they were gathered around the entrance to the cavern, awaiting such time as our hunger
On 13 May 2011, Dagestani police officers forced their way into a mosque in which around 100 members of the Salafist community were gathered for prayers.
For each of the exemptions, the world's leading technical experts were gathered together on a regular basis in Europe to review substitution possibilities.
No indications were gathered showing more than negligible imports of PTA to the Union.
Personal data gathered or transmitted under the Convention shall be used only for the purposes for which they were gathered or transmitted.
Personal data gathered or transmitted under the Convention shall be used only for the purposes for which they were gathered or transmitted.
In the light of the above, sufficient elements were gathered allowing a meaningful assessment of the Union interest.

Alternatives:

We gathered
We have gathered
We will gather
We are gathered

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We were gathering vs We were gathered