he was asked to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'he was asked to' is an acceptable and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is used to indicate that someone was requested to do something or asked to provide something. For example: "The police officer asked him to provide his driver's license."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

He was asked to elaborate.

The New York Times

Sure enough, he was asked to resign.

The New York Times

He was asked to wait.

The New York Times

"He was asked to be aggressive.

The Guardian - Sport

He was asked to name another.

The New York Times - Sports

He was asked to clarify the comment.

The Guardian - Sport

He was asked to withdraw and he withdrew.

The Guardian

"He was asked to do the hair for that.

The New York Times

"He was asked to defeat another uniformed, organized national army.

The New York Times

He was asked to come back in an hour.

The New York Times - Food

Suddenly he was asked to host for a third time.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "he was asked to" when you want to emphasize that someone received a request or instruction, while maintaining a degree of formality.

Common error

Avoid overusing passive voice constructions like "he was asked to", as excessive use can make your writing sound vague and less direct. Prefer active voice when appropriate for clarity and impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he was asked to" functions as a passive construction, indicating that someone received a request or instruction. As Ludwig AI explains, it is an acceptable and commonly used phrase in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

27%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he was asked to" is a grammatically correct and very common passive voice construction used to indicate that someone received a request or instruction. Ludwig AI confirms its acceptability in written English. It's versatile and can be used across various contexts, from news reporting to scientific writing, although it appears most frequently in news and media. While effective, overuse of passive constructions should be avoided for clearer and more direct writing. Consider alternatives like "he was instructed to" or "he received a request to" to add variety. Be mindful of the nuance between "asked" and "told", as the latter implies a stronger sense of authority.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he received a request to

Focuses on the reception of the request, emphasizing the act of being given the request rather than the action following it.

a request was made for him to

Highlights the making of the request, shifting the emphasis from the person asked to the request itself.

he was instructed to

Indicates a more authoritative direction, implying a command or order rather than a polite request.

it was required of him that he

Suggests a formal obligation or necessity, indicating compliance is not optional.

he was prompted to

Implies a gentle encouragement or suggestion led to the action.

he had the task of

Focuses on the assignment of a specific duty, emphasizing the responsibility given.

he was charged with

Implies a formal assignment of responsibility, often carrying significant weight or importance.

he was given the assignment to

Highlights the act of assigning a particular task, focusing on the delegation of work.

he was designated to

Suggests a formal appointment or selection for a specific purpose or role.

he found himself needing to

Indicates a situation where the need to act arose without explicit instruction, driven by circumstances.

FAQs

How to use "he was asked to" in a sentence?

Use "he was asked to" to indicate that someone received a request or instruction to do something. For example, "He was asked to leave the meeting early."

What can I say instead of "he was asked to"?

You can use alternatives like "he was instructed to", "he received a request to", or "he was requested to" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "he was asked to" or "he asked to"?

"He was asked to" is the passive voice, indicating someone requested something of him. "He asked to" means he made the request himself. The correct choice depends on who initiated the request.

What's the difference between "he was asked to" and "he was told to"?

"He was asked to" implies a request, while "he was told to" suggests an order or instruction. The latter carries a stronger sense of authority.