did you propose

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "did you propose" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when inquiring whether someone has made a proposal, often in the context of a romantic engagement or a suggestion for a plan. Example: "During our dinner, I couldn't help but ask, did you propose to her yet?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

How did you propose?

The New York Times

Where did you propose?

The New York Times

How did you propose this article for The New Yorker?

The New Yorker

Why did you propose cutting the number of doctors by 25percentthethe number of specialists by 50percentt?

The New York Times

Later, as Johnson talked about the proposal in the delirious Boise State locker room, I was confused and asked, "Wait a minute, Ian, did you propose to your girlfriend?" He smiled and looked at me as if I'd asked if the colonists had defeated the redcoats in the American Revolution.

The New York Times - Sports

What solution did you propose?My first assignment was to find an solution to this problem.

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

What do you propose?

The New York Times

And what do you propose?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

How do you propose to do it?

The New York Times

Where do you propose we look?

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

And I said, what do you propose?

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When asking about a proposal, ensure your tone is appropriate for the context. Inquire delicately in personal situations, but more directly in professional ones.

Common error

Be mindful not to confuse the verb "propose", meaning to suggest a plan or marriage, with the noun "purpose", which indicates an intention or objective. For example, "Did you propose a solution?" is different from "What is the purpose of this meeting?"

Linguistic Context

The phrase "did you propose" functions primarily as an interrogative clause, seeking information about whether someone made a proposal. This is evident in the provided Ludwig examples, where the question aims to confirm if a proposal (usually of marriage, but sometimes of a plan or idea) was made.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Academia

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "did you propose" is a grammatically sound interrogative used to inquire if someone made a proposal. As noted by Ludwig, it is considered correct and usable in written English. While most often used in the context of marriage, it can also refer to suggesting a plan or idea. Its frequency is uncommon, appearing primarily in News & Media and Academic contexts. Pay attention to intonation to convey your intent and avoid confusing "propose" with "purpose". Examples from Ludwig highlight its usage in various reliable sources, confirming its validity and range.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Did you ask for their hand in marriage?

Rephrases the question to focus on the act of asking for someone's hand in marriage.

Were you the one who proposed?

Highlights the agent performing the proposal.

Did you pop the question?

Uses a common idiom for proposing marriage.

Have you proposed to them?

Uses the present perfect tense to inquire about a proposal at any time up to now.

Did you make a proposal of marriage?

Formalizes the question by explicitly mentioning a proposal of marriage.

Did you suggest marriage?

Simplifies the question to whether marriage was suggested.

Did you offer a marriage proposal?

Emphasizes the offering of a formal proposal.

Were you the one to suggest marriage?

Focuses on the act of suggesting marriage rather than a formal proposal.

Have you suggested getting married?

Inquires whether the idea of getting married has been suggested.

Did you broach the subject of marriage?

Focuses on whether the topic of marriage was introduced.

FAQs

What is the best way to ask "did you propose" in a less direct manner?

Consider rephrasing to something like "Were you the one to bring up the idea of marriage?" or "Did you happen to mention the possibility of getting married?" for a softer approach.

Are there alternative phrases for "did you propose" in a business context?

In a business context, you might use phrases like "Did you "put forward a suggestion"?", or "Did you "table a proposal"?" to inquire about a suggested plan.

How does the meaning of "did you propose" change with different intonations?

The intonation can change the perceived intention. A questioning tone implies genuine inquiry, while a sarcastic tone might imply disbelief or criticism.

Is "did you propose" interchangeable with "did you make an offer"?

While both involve suggesting something, "did you propose" is generally used for plans or marriage, whereas "did you "make an offer"" usually applies to business or negotiation contexts.