I was explained

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "I was explained" is technically grammatically correct, but it is not a commonly used construction in written English. It is more commonly used in spoken English, particularly in informal settings. Here is an example of the phrase being used in a sentence: "I was explained the rules of the game before we started playing." In this example, the speaker is saying that someone explained the rules to them in the past. It is important to note that in written English, it is more common to use the passive voice with the verb "to explain," such as "I was explained the rules of the game." However, even this construction may sound awkward or overly formal in some contexts. It is often better to simply say "Someone explained the rules to me" or "I was told the rules of the game."

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Finally, W u i is explained.

BioMed Research International

Next, W u i (> L u i ) is explained.

BioMed Research International

Estimating the λ i is explained in Section 2.5.

Bioinformatics

I was explaining this to my 25-year-old daughter.

The Guardian - Opinion

"I was explaining that we're honoring police officers, that they're heroes," she said.

The Guardian

Childress says, "I was explaining the notion of changing form and how useful fractal geometry is.

The New Yorker

I was explaining to JP last year, that I was interested in reverse perspective.

The New Yorker

POP QUIZ: While I was explaining all that to you, gentle reader, what was your reaction?

The New York Times

But then, later, I was explaining our legal status to a friend.

The New York Times

"Basically I was explaining the history of recent pop music," he said of his accompanying letters.

The New York Times - Arts

I'm not justifying it, I'm explaining it I'm justifying it.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the context and choose the most appropriate alternative based on whether you want to emphasize the explainer or the reception of the explanation.

Common error

Avoid using "I was explained" in formal writing. This construction can sound unnatural. Instead, restructure the sentence to use a more standard passive form or an active voice construction.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was explained" functions as a passive construction where the subject ('I') receives the action of explaining. However, as indicated by Ludwig AI, this construction is not standard and can sound awkward.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while technically understandable, the phrase "I was explained" is not a standard or recommended grammatical construction in English. Ludwig AI suggests that it is better to use alternatives like "It was explained to me" or "Someone explained it to me" for clarity and correctness. This phrase is infrequent in formal writing and leans towards informal usage, though clearer alternatives are always preferable. Given the lack of examples in Ludwig's database, it's best to avoid this phrasing in professional and academic contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

It was explained to me

Uses a clearer passive construction with 'to me'.

Someone explained it to me

Active voice construction, specifying an explainer.

I received an explanation

Focuses on receiving the explanation rather than the act of explaining.

I was given an explanation

Similar to receiving an explanation, emphasizes the giving.

The situation was clarified for me

Implies a situation was made clearer, not necessarily a direct explanation.

I had it explained to me

Informal phrasing using 'had' to indicate receiving an explanation.

I was briefed

Suggests a concise explanation, often in a professional context.

The details were explained to me

Specifies that details were part of the explanation.

I was informed

Broader term, suggesting any information was conveyed, not necessarily an explanation.

It was made clear to me

Emphasizes clarity rather than the act of explaining.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "I was explained" to sound more natural?

Consider using phrases like "it was explained to me", "someone explained it to me", or "I received an explanation" depending on the context.

Is "I was explained" grammatically correct?

While understandable, "I was explained" is not a standard grammatical construction. It's better to use clearer alternatives to avoid ambiguity.

What's the difference between "I was explained" and "It was explained to me"?

"I was explained" is less direct and can sound awkward. "It was explained to me" is a more common and grammatically sound way to express that you received an explanation.

In what situations might I use "I was explained"?

Although not generally recommended for formal writing, "I was explained" might appear in informal speech. However, using a clearer alternative is always preferable, even in casual contexts.