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

(301) And We are not unjust to them, but they themselves were unjust.

(302) So the heaven and the earth did not weep for them, nor were they respited.

(303) Are they better or the people of Tubba and those before them? We destroyed them, for surely they were guilty.

(304) As to those who disbelieved: What! were not My communications recited to you? But you were proud and you were a guilty people.

(305) These are they from whom We accept the best of what they have done and pass over their evil deeds, among the dwellers of the garden; the promise of truth which they were promised.

(306) And on the day when those who disbelieve shall be brought before the fire: You did away with your good things in your life of the world and you enjoyed them for a while, so today you shall be rewarded with the punishment of abasement because you were unjustly proud in the land and because you transgressed.

(307) Why did not then those help them whom they took for gods besides Allah to draw (them) nigh (to Him)? Nay! they were lost to them; and this was their lie and what they forged.

(308) But if you held command, you were sure to make mischief in the land and cut off the ties of kinship!

(309) Those of the dwellers of the desert who were left behind will say to you: Our property and our families kept us busy, so ask forgiveness for us. They say with their tongues what is not in their hearts. Say: Then who can control anything for you from Allah if He intends to do you harm or if He intends to do you good; nay, Allah is Aware of what you do:

(310) Nay! you rather thought that the Apostle and the believers would not return to their families ever, and that was made fairseeming to your hearts and you thought an evil thought and you were a people doomed to perish.