How to use "they are influential"

What Does "they are influential" Mean?

• What it expresses: degree of impact, importance, or sway.
• What part of the sentence it typically modifies: The entire clause, describing the subject's effect on something.
• Register: Neutral

How to Use It

• Typical sentence positions: Typically appears in the latter half of a sentence following the subject and verb. While it can technically be fronted for emphasis (e.g., "Influential, they are."), this sounds highly unnatural in modern English. The most natural position is immediately after the subject and verb.
• What it modifies and how it changes the meaning of a sentence: It modifies the subject (they), indicating that the subject has a significant effect or impact. It clarifies the nature or extent of the subject's power or importance.
• Grammatical flexibility: It is not typically fronted. It can be used with negation (e.g., "they are not influential"). Questions would typically rephrase the sentence (e.g., "Are they influential?").
• What sounds unnatural or incorrect: Fronting the phrase (e.g., "Influential, they are") sounds archaic or stylistically marked. Separating "they are" too far from "influential" can also sound awkward.

Real-World Examples

These examples are sourced from they are influential on Ludwig.guru.

""They are influential," says one frontbencher." — The Guardian

"But invite the parents too: they are influential now." — The Economist

"While the committees do not amend the budget, they are influential through their criticism and advice." — Encyclopedia Britannica

"There are 120,000 licensed hunters in Poland, and they are influential in parliament." — The Guardian

"A key consideration in recruiting participants was that they are influential in their community so that when they go back, people listen to them." — The Guardian

Examples sourced from https://ludwig.guru/s/they+are+influential

Similar Phrases and Alternatives

Phrase	Context
they have influence	More direct and emphasizes the possession of influence.
they carry weight	Suggests they have importance and their opinions matter.
they are powerful	Implies they wield significant authority or control.
they matter	A more concise and general way of indicating importance.
they have an impact	Focuses on the effect they have on something or someone.
they make a difference	Indicates they contribute positively or significantly.
they pull strings	Implies they exert influence discreetly or behind the scenes.

Common Mistakes

• Using "influentially are they" or similar inversions sounds unnatural.
• Overusing the phrase can make your writing sound repetitive; vary your vocabulary.
• Learners might incorrectly focus on finding a direct synonym for 'influential' instead of using adverbs to modify the adjective and express degrees of influence, such as "they are very influential" or "they are somewhat influential".

Quick-Reference Summary

Expression	Function	Register	Typical Position
they are influential	Describes a group's significant impact or power	Neutral	After the subject and verb

FAQs

Where does "they are influential" typically appear in a sentence?

"They are influential" generally appears after the subject ("they") and the linking verb ("are"). This position is the most natural and grammatically sound way to express that a group or entity has a significant impact or effect.

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How does "they are influential" differ from saying "they have influence"?

While both phrases convey a similar meaning, "they are influential" directly describes their state of being, highlighting their inherent ability to affect outcomes or opinions. "They have influence" focuses more on the possession of power or sway, suggesting that influence is a resource they possess.

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What is a common mistake to avoid when using "they are influential"?

A common mistake is focusing solely on finding synonyms for "influential" and neglecting the use of adverbs to modify the degree of influence. Instead of just saying "they are influential," consider adding adverbs like "very," "highly," or "somewhat" to provide a more nuanced description of their impact: e.g., "they are highly influential."