I was made to

USAGE SUMMARY

"I was made to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express that something was expected or required of you. Example: I was made to take an additional course in order to graduate.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Or so I was made to understand.

The New York Times

I was made to do disgusting things.

The Guardian

I was made to be abused.

The Guardian

"I was made to inspire people and made to run.

The New York Times - Sports

I was made to feel like a rubbish mum".

The Guardian - Business

"I was made to love him," she says.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"I don't quite understand why I was made to".

The Guardian - Music

I thought I was made to travel the world.

The Guardian - Music

"I was made to feel like an abomination".

The Guardian

I was made to feel irresponsible and selfish.

The Guardian

I was made to feel really bad and guilty.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "I was made to", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what caused the obligation or compulsion. Clarity enhances the sentence's impact and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid vagueness by ensuring that the sentence clearly indicates who or what is doing the 'making'. Passive voice can sometimes obscure the agent, so consider rephrasing for clarity if necessary. For example, instead of "I was made to feel bad", specify "They made me feel bad."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I was made to" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject (I) was the recipient of an action, rather than the instigator. Ludwig AI indicates that this phrase is correct and usable. The examples illustrate various contexts where someone is compelled or required to do something by an external force.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "I was made to" is a very common passive construction used to express that an individual was compelled or required to perform an action due to external pressure or circumstances. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct and appropriate for use in written English. The expression appears predominantly in news and media contexts, highlighting its widespread applicability. While alternatives such as "I was forced to" or "I was obliged to" exist, "I was made to" offers a clear and direct way to convey a lack of agency. When using this phrase, it is crucial to ensure clarity regarding the source of compulsion to avoid ambiguity and enhance the sentence's impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

I was forced to

Highlights the lack of consent and the imposition of the action.

I was required to

Stresses an external rule or regulation that necessitates the action.

I was under pressure to

Highlights the stress and influence exerted by external factors.

I felt compelled to

Emphasizes internal pressure or a strong sense of obligation.

I was instructed to

Implies a directive or order from someone in authority.

I was obliged to

Highlights a formal or moral duty to perform an action.

I was given no option but to

Similar to "I had no choice", emphasizing the lack of alternatives.

I had no choice but to

Focuses on the lack of alternatives and the forced nature of the action.

It was imposed upon me to

Emphasizes the external imposition of a duty or task.

Circumstances dictated that I

Focuses on how the situation forced one to act

FAQs

How can I use "I was made to" in a sentence?

Use "I was made to" to express that someone or something compelled you to do something. For example, "I was made to apologize even though I didn't think I was wrong" indicates an external force caused you to apologize.

What's a more formal alternative to "I was made to"?

A more formal alternative is "I was obliged to", which emphasizes a sense of duty or requirement. For example, "I was obliged to attend the meeting" sounds more formal than "I was made to attend the meeting".

Is "I was made to" the same as "I had to"?

While similar, "I had to" generally implies a necessity, whereas "I was made to" implies external coercion or influence. "I had to leave" suggests a personal need, while "I was made to leave" suggests someone else forced the action.

What's the difference between "I was made to" and "I was forced to"?

"I was forced to" and "I was made to" are very similar, but "I was forced to" often implies a more direct and potentially negative imposition of will. While you can use both interchangeably in most contexts, "I was forced to confess" implies a harsher pressure than "I was made to confess".