he was very helpful

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence 'He was very helpful' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it whenever you need to acknowledge someone who has helped you out in some way. For example, you might write in a thank you note to a friend: "I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciate your help. He was very helpful."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

21 human-written examples

John Boylan helped me look stuff up, he was very helpful, and then eventually, I had a copy editor that checked dates.

Huffington Post

He was very helpful.

The New Yorker

"For me, he was very helpful.

Independent

He was very helpful, sorting the myths and the bullshit from the truth about that era.

Independent

He was very helpful when we did the Olympic bid for London in 2012.

The New Yorker

He told me things to see and do, and he was very helpful.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

"He's very helpful," Patrick says.

The New Yorker

He's very helpful that way, Colin is".

The New York Times - Sports

"He's very helpful to me," Mr. Joel said.

The New York Times

"He's very helpful with what he brings with his experience and it's good to have that connection".

BBC

"He's always a giver of his time, he's very helpful to young lads, he's always been well liked and he's a great ambassador for the sport.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Vary your language to avoid repetition. While "he was very helpful" is perfectly acceptable, alternatives like "he was instrumental" or "he provided invaluable assistance" can add nuance and sophistication to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "he was very helpful" as a standalone statement without providing context. Explain how the person was helpful to give your statement more weight and meaning. For example, instead of just saying "He was very helpful", say "He was very helpful in troubleshooting the technical issues we faced."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he was very helpful" functions as a subject-verb-complement construction. "He" is the subject, "was" is the linking verb, and "very helpful" is the subject complement describing the subject's quality. According to Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

21%

Formal & Business

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "he was very helpful" is a grammatically correct and common way to express gratitude for someone's assistance. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is usable in various contexts. While widely accepted, consider adding context to specify how the person was helpful. To enhance your writing, explore synonyms like "he provided considerable assistance" or "he was instrumental in". Be mindful of your audience and adjust the level of formality accordingly. While "he was very helpful" is generally appropriate, knowing when to swap for a more formal or informal option can add depth to your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he was instrumental in

Highlights a key role in achieving a specific outcome.

he was a great help

A more concise and informal way to express the same idea.

he gave invaluable support

Emphasizes the high value of the assistance.

he offered crucial assistance

Highlights the essential nature of the help provided.

he provided considerable assistance

More formal and emphasizes the amount of help given.

he contributed substantially

Emphasizes the significant impact of the assistance provided.

he lent significant aid

Highlights the importance of the assistance offered.

he was quite supportive

Focuses on emotional support rather than practical help.

he was an enormous asset

Focuses on the person's value and positive impact.

he really came through

Informal, indicating reliability and successful assistance during a critical time.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "he was very helpful" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "he provided considerable assistance", "he offered crucial assistance", or "he was instrumental in". These alternatives convey a higher degree of formality and emphasize the significance of the help provided.

What are some informal alternatives to "he was very helpful"?

Informal alternatives include phrases like "he was a great help" or "he really came through". These options are suitable for casual conversations or less formal writing.

In what situations is it best to use the phrase "he was very helpful"?

The phrase "he was very helpful" is appropriate in most situations where you want to acknowledge someone's assistance. It's particularly useful when you want to express gratitude without going into excessive detail. However, providing specific examples of how the person helped can strengthen your message.

What is the difference between saying "he was helpful" and "he was very helpful"?

Adding "very" intensifies the expression of gratitude. While "he was helpful" acknowledges the assistance, "he was very helpful" emphasizes that the assistance was particularly significant or appreciated. The choice depends on the degree of gratitude you wish to convey.