be fought

USAGE SUMMARY

"be fought" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is the passive form of the verb "fight," meaning that the subject of the sentence is receiving the action rather than performing it. You can use "be fought" in a sentence to describe something that has been or will be engaged in a battle or struggle. For example: "The war was finally over, but it had been fought with great sacrifice." Here, "was fought" is the passive form of "fought," indicating that the war was the subject of the fighting. Another example could be: "The disease can only be fought through early detection and treatment." In this sentence, "can be fought" is indicating that the subject, the disease, is the object of the fighting and it can only be fought through certain actions.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Terror cannot be fought by war alone.

The Economist

Unity must be fought for.

The New York Times - Arts

It had to be fought and won..

The New York Times - Books

The House battle will be fought later this summer.

The New York Times

There's bigger battles to be fought yet".

The Guardian - Sport

That will, of course, be fought.

The Guardian

Jihad must be fought without limits.

The New York Times - Magazine

"It can't be fought with velvet gloves.

The New York Times

It has to be fought for.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Demagogic nationalism has to be fought.

The Guardian - Opinion

Games tend to be fought tenaciously.

The New York Times - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "be fought" to emphasize the passive nature of the conflict or struggle, where the subject receives the action rather than initiates it.

Common error

Avoid using "be fought" when the subject actively initiates the conflict. Ensure the sentence clearly indicates that the subject is on the receiving end of the action, not the initiator.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "be fought" functions as a passive infinitive verb. It indicates that the subject of the sentence is the recipient of the action, rather than the performer. As noted by Ludwig AI, this form is grammatically correct and frequently used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

83%

Science

8%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Academia

2%

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "be fought" is a grammatically sound passive infinitive verb construction used to describe conflicts, battles, or struggles experienced by a subject. According to Ludwig AI, its passive form indicates the subject is receiving the action. As demonstrated by the numerous examples, and the analyses conducted, the phrase is particularly common in news and media, with less frequent appearances in scientific or formal business contexts. When writing, ensure the subject is the receiver, not the initiator, of the fighting action. Understanding this passive construction enhances clarity and precision in conveying experiences of conflict.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

be struggled against

Implies a more prolonged and difficult effort against an opponent.

be defended against

Focuses on protecting or guarding against an attack.

be combated

Emphasizes active measures taken to restrain or reduce something harmful.

be tackled

Suggests a direct and practical approach to dealing with a problem.

be contested

Focuses on the act of disputing or challenging something, rather than direct conflict.

be confronted

Highlights the act of facing a difficult situation or opponent.

be resisted

Highlights opposition or defense against something.

be challenged

Focuses on questioning or disputing the validity of something.

be opposed

Indicates a stance of disagreement or disapproval.

be addressed

Emphasizes the need to deal with or discuss something.

FAQs

How can I use "be fought" in a sentence?

Use "be fought" to describe a battle or struggle that is experienced by the subject. For example, "The war had to "be fought" for freedom" indicates that the war was something experienced to achieve freedom.

What phrases are similar to "be fought"?

Similar phrases include "be combated", "be resisted", or "be challenged", depending on the specific context of the conflict or struggle.

Is it correct to say "be fought" or should I use a different tense?

The phrase "be fought" is grammatically correct as the passive infinitive form of the verb "fight". The tense will depend on the context of the sentence. For example, "will be fought" for future tense or "had to be fought" for past tense necessity.

What's the difference between "be fought" and "fight"?

"Be fought" is passive, meaning the subject receives the action. "Fight" is active, where the subject performs the action. For example, "The battle will "be fought"" (passive) versus "They will "fight" the battle" (active).