i was explained

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence "I was explained" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English. It is commonly used when the speaker wants to convey that someone provided them with an explanation or understanding of something. It implies that someone took the time to explain something to them. For example: - "Last week, I was explained the new company policy on working from home. It was really informative and helpful." - "She was kind enough to explain to me the process step by step. I was grateful for her patience." - "I was explained the reasons behind the decision, and although I didn't agree, I understood their perspective."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

" I suppose I worried about it … then I was explained all the statistics[ by the surgeon] – you know, I was given a lot of information".

BMC Family Practice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

I was explaining this to my 25-year-old daughter.

The Guardian - Opinion

Childress says, "I was explaining the notion of changing form and how useful fractal geometry is.

The New Yorker

I was explaining to JP last year, that I was interested in reverse perspective.

The New Yorker

POP QUIZ: While I was explaining all that to you, gentle reader, what was your reaction?

The New York Times

"Sometimes even without meaning to, I was explaining how I thought the piece should have been done.

The New York Times - Arts

"I was explaining that we're honoring police officers, that they're heroes," she said.

The Guardian

"Basically I was explaining the history of recent pop music," he said of his accompanying letters.

The New York Times - Arts

But then, later, I was explaining our legal status to a friend.

The New York Times

Nine years ago I was explaining to my parents the concept of conscious uncoupling.

HuffPost

Finally, W u i is explained.

BioMed Research International

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "i was explained" when you want to emphasize that you were the recipient of an explanation, especially when the source of the explanation is known or implied from context. For example, "I was explained the new safety protocols by the supervisor".

Common error

Avoid using "i was explained" when you intend to convey that you did the explaining. Instead, use "I explained" to clearly indicate that you were the one providing the explanation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "i was explained" functions as a passive voice construction. It indicates that the speaker was the recipient of an explanation. Ludwig confirms its validity, though it's not a particularly common construction.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

18%

Formal & Business

14%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "i was explained" is a grammatically correct but infrequent passive voice construction used to indicate that the speaker received an explanation. According to Ludwig, it is valid, though not commonly used. Its usage is primarily found in news and media contexts. While grammatically sound, alternative phrases like "I received an explanation" or "it was explained to me" may be preferred for clarity and common usage. Understanding its function and purpose can help writers effectively convey the reception of information in various contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

i received an explanation

More direct and active construction, focusing on the reception of the explanation.

it was explained to me

Similar meaning, but emphasizes the action of explaining directed towards the speaker.

i had it explained to me

Emphasizes the completion of the explanation process.

i was given an explanation

Focuses on the act of someone providing an explanation.

the details were explained to me

Specifies that details were the subject of the explanation.

i was informed about

Broader term, indicating receipt of information, not necessarily an explanation.

i was briefed on

Suggests a concise explanation, often in a formal setting.

i learned

Implies gaining knowledge, which could be through explanation or other means.

i understood

Focuses on comprehension, rather than the act of explaining.

i was walked through

Implies a step-by-step explanation or demonstration.

FAQs

How can "i was explained" be used in a sentence?

The phrase "i was explained" indicates that someone provided an explanation to you. For instance, "I was explained the process by the team lead before starting the project".

What are some alternatives to "i was explained"?

You can use alternatives like "I received an explanation", "it was explained to me", or "I was given an explanation" to express the same idea.

Is it correct to say "i was explained"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct, but it's a less common passive voice construction. It's generally understood to mean that someone provided an explanation to you.

What's the difference between "i explained" and "i was explained"?

"I explained" indicates that you were the one providing the explanation, whereas "I was explained" means that someone provided an explanation to you. The former is active, the latter is passive.