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

(131) And when Our decree came to pass We delivered Shu'aib, and those who believed with him by mercy from Us, and the rumbling overtook those who were unjust so they became motionless bodies in their abodes,

(132) And We did not do them injustice, but they were unjust to themselves, so their gods whom they called upon besides Allah did not avail them aught when the decree of your Lord came to pass; and they added but to their ruin.

(133) But why were there not among the generations before you those possessing understanding, who should have forbidden the making of mischief in the earth, except a few of those whom We delivered from among them? And those who were unjust went after what they are made to enjoy of plenty, and they were guilty.

(134) We narrate to you the best of narratives, by Our revealing to you this Quran, though before this you were certainly one of those who did not know.

(135) And certainly she made for him, and he would have made for her, were it not that he had seen the manifest evidence of his Lord; thus (it was) that We might turn away from him evil and indecency, surely he was one of Our sincere servants.

(136) They said while they were facing them: What is it that you miss?

(137) And inquire in the town in which we were and the caravan with which we proceeded, and most surely we are truthful.

(138) He said: Do you know how you treated Yusuf and his brother when you were ignorant?

(139) They said: By Allah! now has Allah certainly chosen you over us, and we were certainly sinners.

(140) They said: O our father! ask forgiveness of our faults for us, surely we were sinners.