The spelling of "were carried along" represents the past tense of the verb "to carry." In IPA phonetic transcription, "were" is pronounced /wɜːr/, with a schwa sound in the first syllable and a non-rhotic /r/ sound in the second. "Carried" is pronounced /ˈkær.id/, with stress on the first syllable and a voiced /d/ sound at the end. "Along" is pronounced /əˈlɒŋ/, with a schwa sound in the first syllable and a nasal /ŋ/ sound in the second. Together, these words form a sentence that describes something that happened in the past, when something was carried along.
"Were carried along" is a phrase used to describe a situation or scenario in which individuals or entities become swept up or influenced by prevailing attitudes, actions, or events, often without actively or consciously participating in them. It implies a sense of being caught up in the momentum or current of a particular movement, idea, or action, and being carried along passively or involuntarily.
This expression can refer to both physical and metaphorical contexts. On a literal level, it can depict individuals being physically moved along by a force or current, such as being carried along by a river's flow or being swept up in a crowd's movement.
Metaphorically, "were carried along" is often used to describe situations in which individuals find themselves conforming to prevailing opinions, beliefs, or behaviors due to external influences or societal pressures. It suggests that individuals may have little control or agency over their actions or decisions in such circumstances, as they are simply being carried along by prevailing trends or forces.
The phrase can also convey a sense of being influenced or swayed by strong emotions or persuasive arguments, leading individuals to act or think in ways they might not have otherwise. It highlights the power of external forces in shaping individual actions or choices, and may imply a lack of critical thinking or independent decision-making.