he was took

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he was took" is not correct in standard written English.
The correct form would be "he was taken." Example: "After the incident, he was taken to the hospital for treatment."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

At Aviva, he was took day-to-day charge of the insurer when he was the incoming chairman to stabilise the business after Moss's removal.

The Guardian - Business

Their teacher, proud as he was, took his class on a field trip to his alma mater in bucolic New Jersey.

The New York Times - Magazine

His first, in 1955 to Geeta Bali, a film star better known than he was, took place in pouring rain in a temple near the Napean Sea Road in Mumbai with only one witness, and without informing the families.

The Economist

Besides, "just looking down isn't going to kill you".To become the world's best free-climber, as he had set out to be and as, in the 1970s and 1980s, he was, took years of training.

The Economist

Richard Nixon, Quaker piker that he was, took a measly 200 staffers with him to China in 1972.

Forbes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

He was taken aback.

The New Yorker

"He was taking jerky.

The New York Times

And he was taking pictures.

The New York Times

He was taken with America.

The New Yorker

He was taking no chances.

The Economist

"He was taking us seriously.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the past participle form "taken" with the auxiliary verb "was" to form the passive voice correctly. For example, use "he was taken" instead of "he was took".

Common error

Avoid using the simple past tense form "took" when the past participle "taken" is required. The phrase "he was took" incorrectly uses the simple past after the auxiliary verb "was", which needs the past participle to form the passive voice.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he was took" functions as an incorrect passive construction. Ludwig AI identifies this usage as non-standard, as the correct form requires the past participle "taken" rather than the simple past "took". The phrase attempts to express that someone or something acted upon the subject, but fails grammatically.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he was took" is grammatically incorrect in standard English. Ludwig AI identifies this as a non-standard construction. The correct phrasing is "he was taken". While a few examples appear, primarily in News & Media contexts, the grammatical error makes the phrase unsuitable for formal writing. Always use the past participle "taken" to form the passive voice correctly. Alternative phrases like "he was captured" or "he was arrested" may be more appropriate depending on the intended meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he was taken

Corrects the grammatical error by using the past participle "taken" instead of "took".

he got taken

Implies that someone or something caused him to be taken, rather than a passive state.

he had been taken

Emphasizes that the action of being taken happened further in the past.

he found himself taken

Highlights the subject's experience and discovery of being in a taken state.

he was captured

Suggests a forceful or involuntary taking, often by an enemy or captor.

he was apprehended

Suggests being taken into custody by law enforcement.

he was seized

Implies a sudden or forceful taking of someone or something.

he was arrested

Specifically indicates being taken into custody for a crime.

he underwent

Rephrases the idea to focus on the experience or process the person went through, rather than the direct action of being taken.

he experienced

Similar to 'he underwent', this emphasizes the person's involvement in an event or situation, stepping away from the passive voice.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "he was took"?

The correct phrasing is "he was taken". The word "taken" is the past participle of the verb "take" and is used with the auxiliary verb "was" to form the passive voice.

When should I use "he was taken"?

Use "he was taken" when you want to express that someone performed an action on him. For instance, "He was taken to the hospital" means someone brought him to the hospital.

Are there situations where "he was took" would be considered correct?

No, "he was took" is not considered grammatically correct in standard English. The correct form is always "he was taken".

What are some alternative phrases to "he was taken"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "he was captured", "he was arrested", or "he was seized" to convey similar meanings.