The word(s) "were" appears 411 time(s) in 363 verse(s) in Quran in Muhammad Habib Shakir translation.

(101) Or you should say: Only our fathers associated others (with Allah) before, and we were an offspring after them: Wilt Thou then destroy us for what the vain doers did?

(102) They ask you about the hour, when will be its taking place? Say: The knowledge of it is only with my Lord; none but He shall manifest it at its time; it will be momentous in the heavens and the earth; it will not come on you but of a sudden. They ask you as if you were solicitous about it. Say: Its knowledge is only with Allah, but most people do not know.

(103) Even as your Lord caused you to go forth from your house with the truth, though a party of the believers were surely averse;

(104) They disputed with you about the truth after it had become clear, (and they went forth) as if they were being driven to death while they saw (it).

(105) When you sought aid from your Lord, so He answered you: I will assist you with a thousand of the angels following one another.

(106) And remember when you were few, deemed weak in the land, fearing lest people might carry you off by force, but He sheltered you and strengthened you with His aid and gave you of the good things that you may give thanks.

(107) But Allah was not going to chastise them while you were among them, nor is Allah going to chastise them while yet they ask for forgiveness.

(108) When you were on the nearer side (of the valley) and they were on the farthest side, while the caravan was in a lower place than you; and if you had mutually made an appointment, you would certainly have broken away from the appointment, but-- in order that Allah might bring about a matter which was to be done, that he who would perish might perish by clear proof, and he who would live might live by clear proof; and most surely Allah is Hearing, Knowing;

(109) In the manner of the people of Firon and those before them; they rejected the communications of their Lord, therefore We destroyed them on account of their faults and We drowned Firon's people, and they were all unjust.

(110) were it not for an ordinance from Allah that had already gone forth, surely there would have befallen you a great chastisement for what you had taken to.