we were silent vs we were silence

The correct phrase is 'we were silent.' 'Silent' is an adjective that describes the state of being quiet or not speaking. 'We were silence' is incorrect because 'silence' is a noun, not an adjective.

Last updated: April 03, 2024 • 96 views

we were silent

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

This phrase is used to describe a past state of being quiet or not speaking. 'Silent' is an adjective that modifies the subject 'we.'

Examples:

During the meeting, we were silent and listened to the speaker.
In the library, we were silent to avoid disturbing others.
After the argument, we were silent for a few minutes.
As the teacher entered the classroom, we were silent.
At the funeral, we were silent out of respect.

Show examples from the web [+]

If we were silent we would have no right to exist.
We saw that while we were silent, the government buried the legitimacy which is conferred by a desire for peace and reason as route and step.
And we were silent: it was a shame to look arches to the friend in the face, it is a shame to speak.
We were silent for a while.
We were very silent, because we didn't have shoes on.
We were told to be silent.
you are actually at the residents in the backyard, the locals are very kind and caring, we were there in a silent period, season over, so really nice it was not there. But for a CP to do very well.
You were silent when Sabina killed herself.
Stones, trees, animals, all were silent.
I had heard you were silent.
You were silent, even to him.
The games were silent, of course.
And as unfairly nearly 70 years about it were silent.
These marvelously wise chickens understood: now nobody will help them, and were silent.
And they were silent and found no answer.
Turns out he and masconi were silent partners for 20 years.
The European institutions were silent accomplices of this attack on the people and on the ecosystem.
He spoke, and all were silent.
His listeners were silent, and something was evidently at work inside in them.
Sat and were silent, were afraid of companies to open, tell something against.

we were silence

This phrase is incorrect in English.

Show examples from the web [+]

When I was finished, we were in silence for a while.
MATURE JENNY: 'As nurses and midwives, 'we were adept of silence.
A tuna fish variation, a wonderful fillet steak with vegetables, a beautifully presented salad buffet and a dessert so good we were stunned into silence.
As opponents of the oligarchical system in 1994, we were allowed fewer rights than animals, we were reduced to silence and prevented from defending our people.
All of us, wherever we were, stood in silence, seeing our same amazement reflected on the faces of those around us.
He opened the door, we got in, and there we were after that endless silence.
We were looking at Silence of the Lambs, and I forget exactly what came up, but I raised my hand and asked, "Isn't it true that movies today have too many close-ups, because audiences are too used to television?"
There has been no answer: all there has been is silence, silence, silence, silence, silence, silence and more silence.
And then there was a silence - one of those awful silences when you know something's wrong.
Silence is Rwandan genocide. Silence is Katrina.
In this oasis of silence with the marvellous spectacle of nature it is easy to experience how profitable silence can be, silence a good ever more rare today - the Pope said.
The Perfect Silence -Silence of Silences- is perfect inner void and reflected in human love transformed by divine love.
They silence Herb to protect their operation.
The door's thickness guarantees total silence.
The silence of infinite space appalled me.
Endure pain and hardship in silence.
Mr Legras tickles when I ask for silence.
My questions were answered with silence.
Silence please, behind the light.
My star, my perfect silence.

Alternatives:

we were quiet
we were hushed
we were mute
we were wordless
we were noiseless

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