he was very sick

USAGE SUMMARY

"he was very sick" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It can be used in a sentence to describe someone's health condition. For example: - "Last week, my coworker was very sick with the flu and had to take a few days off work." - "Despite being very sick, my grandfather insisted on attending my graduation ceremony." - "The doctor said that I could return to work after I recovered from being very sick with pneumonia."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

"He was very sick.

The New Yorker

He was very sick four weeks ago.

The New York Times - Sports

Fairly collapsed around my big belly, he was very sick.

The New York Times

He was very sick and died suspiciously there.

Independent

He wrote even when he was very sick?

The New York Times - Health

By the final book, The Terrorists, he was very sick.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

A year later, she was very sick.

The Guardian

He's very sick.

The New Yorker

"He's very sick," she said.

The New Yorker

"He's my son, and he's very sick," he said before walking away.

The New York Times

Asked about Megrahi's condition, he replied: "He is very sick.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing someone's illness, be specific about the symptoms or condition if appropriate for the context. For example, instead of just saying "he was very sick", you could add "he was very sick with a high fever and persistent cough."

Common error

Avoid relying solely on "very" to emphasize the severity of the illness. Replace it with more descriptive adjectives like "severely", "gravely", or "critically" to provide a clearer and more impactful depiction of the person's condition.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he was very sick" functions as a descriptive statement, detailing someone's health status. Ludwig examples show it being used in narratives and reports across varied domains.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Formal & Business

16%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "he was very sick" is a grammatically sound and common way to describe someone's illness. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is readily usable in a range of contexts. While the phrase is frequently found in news and media, it's versatile enough for business, scientific, and even informal communication. To add depth to your writing, consider supplementing it with specifics of the sickness or employing stronger adjectives beyond "very". Remember to avoid overusing "very" and opt for more descriptive synonyms for impact.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he was severely ill

Replaces "very sick" with a stronger adjective to emphasize the seriousness of the illness.

he had a serious illness

Shifts the focus to the illness itself, highlighting its severity.

he was gravely unwell

Uses "gravely" to denote the life-threatening aspect of the sickness and replaces "sick" with "unwell".

he was ailing badly

Employs "ailing" and "badly" to suggest a prolonged period of sickness and its detrimental impact.

he was extremely unwell

Replaces "very sick" with "extremely unwell", offering a slightly more formal tone.

his condition was critical

Focuses on the criticality of the state of health of the subject.

he suffered a severe affliction

Replaces "illness" with "affliction" adding a nuance of suffering to the description.

he battled a life-threatening disease

Highlights the severity of the disease and its potential to cause death.

he was in a critical condition

Focuses on the criticality of the state of health of the subject.

he was laid up with a terrible illness

Expresses the idea of being confined due to a severe illness, adding a sense of incapacitation.

FAQs

How can I use "he was very sick" in a sentence?

You can use "he was very sick" to describe someone's state of health. For example: "Even though "he was very sick", he still managed to finish the project."

What are some alternatives to "he was very sick"?

You can use alternatives like "he was severely ill", "he had a serious illness", or "he was gravely unwell" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "he was very sick"?

Yes, "he was very sick" is grammatically correct. It uses the past tense of the verb "to be" with an adjective and an intensifier to describe someone's health condition.

What's the difference between "he was very sick" and "he had a serious illness"?

"He was very sick" focuses more on the state of being ill, whereas "he had a serious illness" emphasizes the illness itself and its severity. The best option depends on the specific context and what you want to highlight.