I was inquired

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "I was inquired" is not correct and would not be used in written English.
The correct version of this sentence would be "I was asked." Example: My boss asked me why I was late to work, so I was asked to explain my tardiness.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

I was inquiring for a friend.

The New Yorker

I didn't actually want those canned croissants I was inquiring about yesterday.

The New Yorker

I wasn't sure exactly what I meant by the question — whether I was inquiring about a rhythmic influence or a spiritual one, some kind of widening or diffusion.

The New Yorker

Dear Sir or Madam, I was inquiring for the job listing of Dental Assistant that you have open at this time, I am a Kaplan College student, who completed 160 credit hrs externship at Apple Dentistry of Plano, and I passed the Texas SDBE exam and I am RDA Certified in the state of Texas.

Cover Letter

"Have you?" "I am inquiring you".

The New Yorker

I'm inquiring for my brother.

Harvard University

"I'm inquiring as to whether there's a reason for that," the judge said.

The New Yorker

I'm inquiring to determine if that includes heat production.

Forbes

I'm not inquiring about which candidate will get your vote; I'm inquiring about the people who accompany you into the voting booth or wherever or however it is you cast your vote.

Huffington Post

I'm inquiring about the position of Production Assistant with KickBack Studios.

Cover Letter

Now I realize that she was inquiring about my complexion.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "I was inquired" as it is not grammatically correct in modern English. Instead, use "I was asked" or another suitable alternative depending on the intended meaning.

Common error

A common mistake is using "inquire" in the passive voice as "I was inquired". "Inquire" is typically used actively. The correct passive construction would involve verbs like "ask" or "question". Instead of saying "I was inquired", try "I was asked" or "I was questioned".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was inquired" functions as an attempt at passive voice construction. However, as noted by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically incorrect. The verb "inquire" is not typically used in this way, making the phrase sound unnatural.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "I was inquired" is considered grammatically incorrect in modern English. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, a more appropriate alternative is to use "I was asked" or a similar phrasing that accurately conveys the intended meaning. Due to the lack of correct usage examples, it's best to avoid "I was inquired" in both formal and informal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was asked

Replaces "inquired" with the more common and grammatically correct "asked".

I was questioned

Substitutes "inquired" with "questioned", which is a more formal synonym but grammatically sound.

I was prompted

Uses "prompted" to suggest being encouraged or invited to speak.

I was requested

Employs "requested" to indicate a formal asking or invitation.

I was invited

Indicates being formally asked to do something, like providing information.

I was polled

Suggests being part of a survey or systematic questioning.

I was interviewed

Implies a structured questioning process, typically for a job or research.

I was canvassed

Indicates being asked for opinions, often in a political context.

I was examined

Suggests a thorough questioning or investigation.

I was investigated

Implies a formal inquiry, often related to legal or ethical matters.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "I was inquired"?

The correct and more common way to express this idea is to use "I was asked". Depending on the context, you could also use "I was questioned".

Why is "I was inquired" considered grammatically incorrect?

While "inquire" is a valid verb, it is not typically used in the passive voice in the same way as "ask". Therefore, "I was inquired" sounds unnatural to native English speakers. Using "I was asked" is more idiomatic.

Are there contexts where "inquired" can be used in the passive voice?

The verb "inquire" is rarely used in the passive voice. It is more common to say something like "The matter was inquired into". However, saying "I was asked" is preferable when referring to personal interaction.

What's the difference between "I was inquired" and "I was questioned"?

"I was inquired" is not standard English. "I was questioned" is grammatically correct and implies a more formal or thorough asking. "I was asked" is a more general and common alternative.