are now overgrown

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "are now overgrown" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe areas that have become covered with plants or vegetation, often implying neglect or abandonment. Example: "The once vibrant garden is now overgrown with weeds and wildflowers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

Traffic circles are now overgrown.

The New York Times

There are fewer children, but much better dressed, and fewer, if any, rabbits, and the stretches of common where they once both swarmed are now overgrown with brambles.

Independent

He believes in order, and he disdainfully pointed out planned residential neighborhoods that are now overgrown with roadside markets, and "temporary" settlements that have survived for decades.

The New Yorker

The terraces we are mapping were previously cultivated for barley, wheat and vegetables but, after being fallow for a number of years, are now overgrown with weeds, many of which are quite angry.

The New York Times

The trees were planted in the late 1970s and early 1980s but are now overgrown from a lack of maintenance.

BBC

Flashing forward 100 years, it is now the present day and Leo, whom Count Lilac has preserved by turning him into a vampire, is ready to rescue his sleeping princess (all this time, he has been living as a homeless person in a tent outside the palace gates, which are now overgrown with vines).

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

49 human-written examples

The pool is now overgrown with weeds.

The New York Times

But, for all her doubleness of vision, her escape path is now overgrown.

The New Yorker

The castle was never inhabited, and after years of abandon it is now overgrown with vegetation and the gnarled roots of towering banyan trees, occupied by monkeys.

The Guardian - Travel

The former churchyard of St Enghenedl's is still visible but is now overgrown.

Wikipedia

The churchyard, gravestones, and lychgate of St Enghenedl's remain in their original location, but the churchyward is now overgrown.

Wikipedia

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "are now overgrown" to create a sense of decay or the reclaiming of spaces by nature, enhancing the imagery in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "are now overgrown" when you mean to describe an active process. For example, don't say "The weeds are now overgrown the garden" which incorrectly uses the passive voice when an active verb like "overgrowing" is needed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "are now overgrown" functions as a verb phrase in the passive voice, describing a state of being. Ludwig confirms its validity and usability in English. It indicates that something has transitioned into a state of being excessively covered by vegetation.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Wiki

16%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "are now overgrown" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression, primarily found in news and media, to describe a state of excessive vegetation due to neglect or abandonment. Ludwig AI confirms its validity, highlighting its function as a passive verb phrase indicating a current condition. Related phrases include "have become overgrown" and "are currently overgrown". When using this phrase, ensure you're accurately depicting a landscape or object that has transitioned into a state of being covered by overabundant plant life. Keep in mind that now can be removed without altering the meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

have become overgrown

Replaces "are now" with "have become", emphasizing the process of becoming overgrown over time.

are currently overgrown

Substitutes "now" with "currently" to stress the present state of being overgrown.

are presently overgrown

Similar to 'currently overgrown', but uses 'presently' to highlight the existing condition.

are today overgrown

Focuses on the present day's condition of being overgrown.

are lately overgrown

Indicates that the overgrowth has occurred recently.

are now covered

Replaces "overgrown" with "covered", broadening the meaning to include any kind of covering, not just plant growth.

are now wild

Indicates a state of being uncultivated or untamed, similar to being overgrown.

have become wild

Similar to “are now wild”/s/are+now+wild, this stresses the process of becoming untamed

are currently wild

Similar to “are presently overgrown”/s/are+presently+overgrown but uses 'presently' to highlight the existing untamed state.

are now jungle-like

Uses a simile to describe the overgrown state, implying a dense, wild environment.

FAQs

How can I use "are now overgrown" in a sentence?

You can use "are now overgrown" to describe a place or thing that was once maintained but is now covered in excessive plant growth. For example: "The garden paths "are now overgrown" with weeds."

What are some alternatives to saying "are now overgrown"?

Alternatives include "have become overgrown", "are currently overgrown", or "are now covered", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "are now overgrown"?

Yes, "are now overgrown" is grammatically correct. It uses the present tense of "to be" with "now" to indicate the current state and "overgrown" as a past participle acting as an adjective.

What's the difference between "are now overgrown" and "were now overgrown"?

"Are now overgrown" indicates the current state, while "were now overgrown" would imply that something was overgrown at a certain point in the past relative to another past event. Use ""are now overgrown"" for present descriptions.