almost drive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "almost drive" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone is close to driving or is in a situation where they are nearly able to drive, but not quite there yet. Example: "After weeks of practice, I felt ready to take the test, but I almost drive to the testing center before realizing I forgot my documents."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The Yaris could almost drive itself.

The Guardian

I'm about to ask why she kept that to herself when, rounding a bend, I almost drive straight into the black depths of a ford.

The Guardian - Travel

So, Dr. Ekman finds, the young have to be receiving some direct benefit from staying, because it is the clear choice of the dominant siblings who, in some cases, have to almost drive away the losers, who have to disperse.

The New York Times - Science

But even now, an age where cars can almost drive themselves, consumers still cannot place a car in an online basket and proceed to checkout.

BBC

With a quick install of gears, a click on a confirmation box and a couple of seconds of loading time, the same functions that would previously almost drive a user insane now feel like they are part of the browser itself.

TechCrunch

The Canadian newspaper The Globe and Mail reported that while he had started out well, "a jaunty smile on [his] face as he braved some of the worst exhaust fumes in the world spluttering almost directly into his face from trucks he could almost drive underneath", he ran into problems when he reached a hill: "It was at this point that he realised the battery had gone dead.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

"I almost drove into your closet".

The New York Times

"Being precise about language almost drove me mad," she adds.

Independent

"It has to be almost driven from the community".

The New York Times - Science

"It almost drove us crazy," said Ms. Goehler.

The New York Times

He was laughing, because we had almost driven past him.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "almost drive" to create suspense or highlight a near miss in narratives, emphasizing the potential consequences of a completed action.

Common error

Avoid using "almost drive" when the action of driving actually occurred. Instead, use past tense forms like "drove" or "was driving" to accurately reflect completed actions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "almost drive" functions as a modifier + verb construction, where "almost" modifies the action of driving. It indicates an action that was close to occurring but did not actually happen. Ludwig examples showcase its use in various narrative and descriptive contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Wiki

33%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "almost drive" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression to describe actions of driving that were on the verge of happening but ultimately did not occur. As shown by Ludwig, it's a versatile phrase found in diverse contexts, from news reports to personal anecdotes. It is essential to use "almost drive" to precisely describe near misses and potential actions, and to remember that, as Ludwig AI suggests, this phrase adds a layer of suspense and emphasis to the situation. Steer clear of using this phrase when the driving action was completed; instead, opt for the appropriate past tense to maintain accuracy in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly drive

Emphasizes the proximity to the action of driving, suggesting a very close margin.

just about drive

Highlights the narrow escape from driving, indicating the action was on the verge of occurring.

came close to driving

Focuses on the nearness of the action, placing more emphasis on the attempt.

was on the verge of driving

Suggests the action was imminent, ready to happen at any moment.

practically drive

Implies the action was almost a reality, very close to being true.

virtually drive

Similar to 'practically', suggesting the action was so close it was as good as done.

all but drive

Emphasizes that everything except the actual driving was in place.

was within an inch of driving

Uses a spatial metaphor to highlight how close the action was to occurring.

almost got behind the wheel

Focuses on the physical act of getting ready to drive, stopping just short.

came within a hair's breadth of driving

Uses an idiomatic expression to emphasize the extremely small margin.

FAQs

How can I use "almost drive" in a sentence?

You can use "almost drive" to describe a situation where someone nearly performed the action of driving but stopped short, such as "I "almost drove" into a ditch when I saw the deer."

What does "almost drive" mean?

"Almost drive" means to come very close to performing the act of driving. It suggests that the action was not completed but was on the verge of happening.

What are some similar phrases to "almost drive"?

Similar phrases include "nearly drive", "just about drive", or "came close to driving", which all convey a sense of near completion.

Is "almost drive" grammatically correct?

Yes, "almost drive" is grammatically correct when used to describe an action that was close to happening. However, it should not be used if the action was actually completed. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct.