we were slowed down vs we have been slowed down

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'We were slowed down' is used to describe a past event where the slowing down occurred in the past and is completed. 'We have been slowed down' is used to indicate a present result of a past action, emphasizing the current state resulting from being slowed down.

Last updated: March 31, 2024 • 1084 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to describe a past event where the slowing down occurred in the past and is completed.

"we were slowed down"

This phrase is used to talk about an action that happened in the past and caused a delay or reduction in speed. It indicates that the slowing down took place at a specific point in the past.

Examples:

We were slowed down by heavy traffic on the way to the airport.
The team was slowed down by technical issues during the project.
Due to the bad weather, the progress of the construction was slowed down.
The company was slowed down by bureaucratic procedures in getting approvals.
The athlete was slowed down by an injury in the race.

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Japan slowed down after it had basically caught up.
And if these trains were slowed down?
Employment growth has slowed down and unemployment has started to rise.
Since the mid-1990s, productivity growth in the EU has slowed down markedly.
It must not be hushed up, covered up, slowed down to please the US or anyone.
The driver never even slowed down.
I should have slowed down lots of times.
The car slowed down before the shots were fired.
Growth slowed down strongly in 2001 but recovered quickly, reaching 4,4 % in 2004.
He definitely slowed down, and he'd go traveling.
Maybe it was because I finally slowed down.
Everything slowed down and I... I know how they do the shrinking.
The Legionella slowed down the disease.
That's why the disease slowed down.
I would have slowed down when she started chasing us.
I would have slowed down when she started chasing us.
It hasn't slowed down a bit.
I think I slowed down the bleeding.
But there it is slowed down.
This is slowed down 10 times.

Alternatives:

we experienced a slowdown
we encountered a delay
we faced a setback
we were impeded
we were hindered

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate a present result of a past action, emphasizing the current state resulting from being slowed down.

"we have been slowed down"

This phrase is used to show the ongoing effect of being slowed down that started in the past and continues to affect the present. It highlights the current state of being slowed down.

Examples:

We have been slowed down by the recent changes in regulations.
The project has been slowed down by unexpected challenges.
Our progress has been slowed down by the lack of resources.
The team has been slowed down by the pandemic restrictions.
The company has been slowed down by the economic downturn.

Show examples from the web [+]

In addition, increases in commodity prices have been slowed down somewhat by the strong currency.
No. But the search has been slowed down by a thoron particle leak.
Unfortunately, this process has been slowed down by a lack of political will on the part of the Member States to make European decisions truly effective.
Japan slowed down after it had basically caught up.
The cooperation process has been slowed down by the fact that it has become fragmented and is being administered by many different authorities, especially on the Russian side.
The adoption of certain measures in the field of police and judicial cooperation in criminal matters has been slowed down by the need for unanimous decision-making in this field.
In how many cases has aid to populations and production sectors hit by natural disasters been slowed down because bureaucratic hitches or miscellaneous snags arose in the course of the standard procedures?
Unfortunately, this work has been slowed down by the delays linked to the confirmation of the active participation of the Member States and by the decision that we have taken to focus the meagre resources on the implementation of the voluntary approach laid out in the action plan.
Employment growth has slowed down and unemployment has started to rise.
Since the mid-1990s, productivity growth in the EU has slowed down markedly.
It must not be hushed up, covered up, slowed down to please the US or anyone.
The driver never even slowed down.
I should have slowed down lots of times.
The car slowed down before the shots were fired.
Growth slowed down strongly in 2001 but recovered quickly, reaching 4,4 % in 2004.
He definitely slowed down, and he'd go traveling.
Maybe it was because I finally slowed down.
Everything slowed down and I... I know how they do the shrinking.
The Legionella slowed down the disease.
That's why the disease slowed down.

Alternatives:

we are currently experiencing a slowdown
we are currently facing a delay
we are currently dealing with a setback
we are currently impeded
we are currently hindered

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we were slowed down vs we have been slowed down