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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak
CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com
it gave was
Grammar usage guide and real-world examplesUSAGE SUMMARY
The phrase "it gave was" is not correct and usable in written English.
It appears to be a fragment and lacks clarity, making it difficult to determine its intended meaning or context. Example: "The gift it gave was unexpected."
⚠ May contain grammatical issues
News & Media
Science
Wiki
Alternative expressions(20)
it found was
it definitely was
it becomes did
it stated that
it indicated that
it thought was
it gave
it yes I did
it really did happen
indeed it was
that certainly happened
it certainly was
it really is did
it sure was
it fucking did
it left was
it absolutely was
that was certainly the case
it truly did
it surely did
Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Human-verified examples from authoritative sources
Exact Expressions
7 human-written examples
The reason it gave was that every single one of its admissions staff was busy interviewing prospective new students for next year's intake.
News & Media
"Disco was born, maggot like, from the rotten remains of the Big Apple", wrote Peter Shapiro in "Turn the Beat Around" a history of the genre.The release it gave was different though.
News & Media
The picture of life that it gave was so obviously false that it seemed designed to appeal to someone who hadn't lived very much of it, and thus couldn't tell the difference.
News & Media
To turn, for example, to this court's holding in Oregon v. Elstad, this court refused to apply the fruit-of-the-poisonous-tree doctrine, and the reason it gave was that a simple failure to administer Miranda warnings is not, in itself, a violation of the Fifth Amendment.
News & Media
It also argued that the information it gave was not key to identifying Mr Wang, or another dissident Shi Tao, who was added to the case in May: "Free speech rights as we understand them in the United States are not the law in China.
News & Media
One example it gave was for the ARIA resort and casino in Las Vegas, which had over 1,500 room nights booked "for a nearly 5X [return on investment] after running Offers on Facebook".
News & Media
Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources
Similar Expressions
51 human-written examples
"Now all it gives is sensationalist television".
News & Media
Really?' The pride it gives is immense.
News & Media
The impression it gives is one of elegance and repose.
News & Media
Is it charity if giving is mandatory?
News & Media
Make it clear that giving is optional.
Wiki
Expert writing Tips
Best practice
When describing a reason or explanation, use more common phrases such as "the reason it gave was" or "it stated that" to improve clarity and grammatical correctness.
Common error
Be cautious when using uncommon sentence structures. Using phrases such as "it gave was" can sound unnatural and confuse your reader. Instead, opt for clearer and more conventional phrasing.
Source & Trust
87%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested
Linguistic Context
The phrase "it gave was" functions as part of a clause where "it" refers to an entity providing something, and "gave" is the past tense of "give". However, the structure is grammatically flawed. As Ludwig AI suggests, this phrase is incorrect in standard English.
Frequent in
News & Media
45%
Wiki
30%
Science
25%
Less common in
Encyclopedias
0%
Formal & Business
0%
Social Media
0%
Ludwig's WRAP-UP
In summary, the phrase "it gave was" is grammatically incorrect and not recommended for use in formal or professional writing. While it appears in some contexts, such as news and media, it is best to replace it with grammatically sound alternatives like "the reason it gave was", "it provided", or "it stated". As indicated by Ludwig AI, clarity and accuracy are key in effective communication, and using correct phrasing ensures your message is well-received.
More alternative expressions(6)
Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:
what it provided was
Replaces "gave" with "provided" to offer a more standard verb choice, keeping the core meaning intact.
the reason it gave was
Adds 'the reason' to specify that the sentence will discuss an explanation or justification.
the information it gave was
Specifies that the sentence concerns data or details that were supplied.
the picture it gave was
Highlights that the sentence describes an impression or representation that was created.
one example it gave was
Emphasizes that the sentence presents a specific instance or illustration offered.
the description it gave was
Focuses on the specific account or details provided.
it offered as
Rephrases the sentence to use "offered" instead of "gave" for a slightly more formal tone.
it stated that
Changes the sentence to "it stated that", indicating a formal declaration or announcement.
it explained that
Modifies the sentence to "it explained that", suggesting a detailed reason or clarification was provided.
it indicated that
Replaces with "it indicated that" to suggest a signal or sign was given rather than a direct offering.
FAQs
How can I correctly use a similar phrase to "it gave was"?
Instead of "it gave was", use alternatives like "the reason "it gave"", "it provided", or "it stated" for clarity and grammatical accuracy.
What's the difference between "it gave was" and "it provided was"?
"It gave was" is grammatically incorrect. "It provided was" uses a standard verb tense and is grammatically correct, offering a clearer meaning.
Is "it gave was" ever correct in English?
No, "it gave was" does not conform to standard English grammar. It's better to use phrases like "the information "it gave"", or restructure the sentence for better clarity.
What can I say instead of "it gave was" to sound more professional?
For a more professional tone, use phrases like "it stated that" or "it explained that" when conveying information from a source.
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Table of contents
Usage summary
Human-verified examples
Expert writing tips
Linguistic context
Ludwig's wrap-up
Alternative expressions
FAQs
Source & Trust
87%
Authority and reliability
2.8/5
Expert rating
Real-world application tested