Were occasionally given vs Occasionally were given

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'Were occasionally given' is more commonly used and emphasizes the action of giving in the past, while 'occasionally were given' places more emphasis on the frequency of the giving. The choice between them depends on the intended emphasis in the sentence.

Last updated: March 31, 2024 • 566 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"Were occasionally given"

This phrase is used to describe the action of giving something in the past, with the emphasis on the occasional nature of the giving.

Examples:

Gifts were occasionally given to the employees as a token of appreciation.
Awards were occasionally given to outstanding students.
Prizes were occasionally given to the winners of the competition.

Show examples from the web [+]

Relations with the Ombudsman have occasionally given rise to differences of opinion.
A small child can be taken by the hand, or occasionally given a smack, if needs be.
This declaration is necessary because other public statements have occasionally given the impression that the Member States concerned are distancing themselves from their commitments, and that would be a real crisis of confidence and a breakdown in loyalty among the Member States.
The first is that for all the attention that is occasionally given to disagreements in trade matters between the United States and the European Union, it is worth bearing in mind that 98% of our trade is dispute-free.
When one is constructing a geometric proof, one must occasionally review the givens.
However, where exceeding or falling below the thresholds occurs only occasionally within a given calendar year and such situations are considered as temporary the AIFM should not be obliged to make an application for authorisation.
It is apparent that the prospect of the meeting next week has already given a boost to negotiations that were occasionally tending to slow down.
She just thought you were occasionally annoying.
This separation has been particularly important during the financial market turmoil that started in early August 2007, when short-term money market rates were occasionally very volatile.
Temporary trembling, incoordination and depression were occasionally observed when the veterinary product was administered at overdoses of up to 5 times the recommended dose.
I wish to begin, on behalf of the Commission, by thanking the Portuguese presidency for coordinating the Member States' positions so effectively and for handling the negotiations with other delegations so proficiently under what I understand were occasionally extremely difficult conditions.
Transient muscular tremors, incoordination and depression were occasionally observed when the veterinary product was administered at overdoses of up to 5 times the recommended dose.
In order to reduce the amount of accumulated swaps outstanding, outright purchases of foreign exchange were occasionally carried out, implying overall significant net purchases of foreign exchange to absorb potential upward pressure on the currency.
Occasionally, an analysis is based on a principle other than selective solution; in such cases full details are given in the appropriate section.
Occasionally it was noted that no explanation was given to justify the lack of resources in a high priority case with, in principle, adequate staff allocation.
This Subsection shall not apply, so far as any given Member State is concerned, to activities which in that State are connected, even occasionally, with the exercise of official authority.
One of the problems of the secular state is that respect has sometimes given way to indifference towards faith groups and occasionally even to scorn.
Allergic reactions have occasionally been seen, so it is recommended that the first dose of Dynepo be given under medical supervision.
Yet, in some countries, these organisations do not or only occasionally enter the financial market; in other countries workers are given cast iron guarantees, but the directive obviously does not aim to do this.
Given Mr Poggiolini's comments earlier, perhaps we can make a plea to the services of this Parliament that we occasionally have a debate on health issues that takes place during the daytime rather than late at night.

Alternatives:

were given occasionally
occasionally received
received occasionally
were sometimes given
were given from time to time

This phrase is correct but less commonly used in English.

"Occasionally were given"

This phrase is used to emphasize the frequency of the giving, with occasional being the focus of the sentence.

Examples:

Awards occasionally were given to outstanding students.
Prizes occasionally were given to the winners of the competition.
Gifts occasionally were given to the employees as a token of appreciation.

Show examples from the web [+]

Relations with the Ombudsman have occasionally given rise to differences of opinion.
A small child can be taken by the hand, or occasionally given a smack, if needs be.
This declaration is necessary because other public statements have occasionally given the impression that the Member States concerned are distancing themselves from their commitments, and that would be a real crisis of confidence and a breakdown in loyalty among the Member States.
When one is constructing a geometric proof, one must occasionally review the givens.
The first is that for all the attention that is occasionally given to disagreements in trade matters between the United States and the European Union, it is worth bearing in mind that 98% of our trade is dispute-free.
However, where exceeding or falling below the thresholds occurs only occasionally within a given calendar year and such situations are considered as temporary the AIFM should not be obliged to make an application for authorisation.
Occasionally, there were prizes, such as that given to John Harrison in the 18th century, for solving the so-called longitude problem, but prizes were only given after the fact, when they were given at all.
You see, inconvenient though you occasionally were, you're always worth more to me alive than dead.
You see, inconvenient though you occasionally were, you're always worth more to me alive than dead.
The injections were given 21 days apart.
We were given the ultimate responsibility, free will.
You were given these calendars to post last Christmas.
Half were given random Bible topics.
Children were given weapons And trained to fight.
We dealt with what we were given.
Follow the instructions that were given.
Children were given weapons And trained to fight.
We were given misleading information in the Commission.
Five men who were given a choice.
We were given a two-week extension.

Alternatives:

were given occasionally
were given from time to time
were sometimes given
occasionally received
received occasionally

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Were occasionally given vs Occasionally were given