is flew

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "is flew" is not correct in written English.
It is a grammatical error as "is" and "flew" do not agree in tense; "is" is present tense while "flew" is past tense. Example: "The bird is flew over the lake" should be corrected to "The bird is flying over the lake."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

We considered a male as responding to a playback if he clearly approached, that is, flew towards the loudspeaker and sang.

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Benzema is flying.

The New York Times - Sports

Mud is flying.

The Economist

Currently, Watford is flying.

The New York Times - Sports

Summer is flying by.

University of California, Berkeley

The plane is flown remotely.

The New Yorker

Much misinformation is flying.

The Washington Post

And Finch is flying.

The Guardian - Sport

Or is flying justifiable?

The Guardian

Now she is flying.

The Guardian - Film

Understandably, Ms. McEntire is flying high.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always ensure verb tenses agree in your sentences. "Is" denotes present tense, while "flew" denotes past tense. Use "is flying" for an ongoing action or "was flown" for a past passive action.

Common error

Avoid combining present tense auxiliary verbs (like "is", "am", "are") with past tense main verbs (like "flew"). This creates grammatically incorrect sentences. Instead, use "is flying" to maintain present continuous tense.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "is flew" represents an incorrect combination of verb tenses. The auxiliary verb "is" indicates present tense, while "flew" is the past tense of "fly". As Ludwig AI indicates, this combination violates standard English grammar rules.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "is flew" is grammatically incorrect because it mixes present and past tenses. As Ludwig AI confirms, this violates standard English grammar. The correct alternatives depend on the intended meaning: use "is flying" for an ongoing action or "was flown" for a past passive action. Due to its incorrectness, "is flew" should be avoided in all contexts. Examples of correct phrases are: "is flying", "was flown", and "has flown".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

is flying

Uses the present continuous tense correctly to indicate an action happening now.

was flown

Employs the passive voice in the past tense, indicating something was transported by air.

has flown

Uses the present perfect tense, suggesting a completed action with present relevance.

is airborne

Describes the state of being in the air or flying.

is soaring

Implies graceful and high flight.

is gliding

Suggests smooth and effortless movement through the air.

is taking flight

Indicates the beginning of the act of flying.

is in flight

Describes the state of being actively flying.

is being flown

Highlights the action of someone or something causing flight.

is piloted

Specifically refers to being controlled by a pilot in flight.

FAQs

How to correct the phrase "is flew"?

The phrase "is flew" is grammatically incorrect. Use "is flying" to indicate a present continuous action or "was flown" for a past passive action.

What is the difference between "is flying" and "is flew"?

"Is flying" is the present continuous tense, indicating an action happening now. "Is flew" is grammatically incorrect due to mismatched verb tenses. You should always use "is flying".

When should I use "was flown" instead of "is flew"?

Use "was flown" when you want to express a passive action in the past. For example, "The package was flown to its destination". The phrase "is flew" is never correct.

What are some alternatives to "is flying"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "is airborne", "is soaring", or "is gliding". However, avoid "is flew" as it's grammatically incorrect.