it interested

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it interested" is not correct in standard English; it should be "it interests" or "it interested me." You can use "it interested" in the past tense when referring to something that captured your attention or curiosity in the past.
Example: "The documentary about space exploration really interested me."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

If there were something in the world that was interesting, it interested Mailer.

Huffington Post

Profit making doesn't interest them as much as it interested people before, particularly the postwar generation.

The New York Times

Try to make the summary short but interesting, it should get anyone reading it interested enough to read your comic.

WikiHow

If this strange saga interested you anywhere near as much as it interested me, go ahead and dive in.

TechCrunch

That's why it interested me".

The Guardian

Very little of it interested Finch.

The New Yorker

"It interested me to go down that path.

The New York Times - Arts

"I'm not sure it interested him that much".

The New York Times

It interested one of them that I was a writer.

The New Yorker

"It interested me, the passage of time: how you perceive time, what it means.

The New York Times - Books

It interested me that there had been prostitutes working these very streets for hundreds of years.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming for clarity, replace the phrase "it interested" with "it interested me", "I found it interesting", or another similar grammatically correct alternative.

Common error

Avoid using "it interested" without a direct object. Ensure the sentence clearly indicates who or what experienced the interest, such as "it interested me" or "it interested him".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it interested" typically functions as a verb phrase where "it" is the subject and "interested" is the verb in the past tense. However, it requires a direct object to be grammatically correct, specifying who or what was interested. Ludwig AI highlights that the standalone phrase is grammatically questionable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Wiki

24%

Science

21%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "it interested" appears frequently, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect without a direct object indicating who or what was interested. Ludwig AI confirms this assessment. To improve clarity and correctness, alternatives like "it interested me", "I found it interesting", or "it caught my attention" are recommended. These options ensure the sentence is grammatically sound and effectively communicates the intended meaning. Remember to specify who experienced the interest for clear communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it caught my attention

Replaces "interested" with "caught my attention" for a more standard expression.

it piqued my interest

Uses "piqued my interest" to convey a sense of curiosity being stimulated.

I found it interesting

Expresses personal interest in a more direct and grammatically sound manner.

it appealed to me

Suggests that something was attractive or pleasing.

it fascinated me

Highlights a strong sense of captivation.

it drew my interest

Similar to "caught my attention" but with a slightly different nuance.

it intrigued me

Conveys a sense of mystery or curiosity being aroused.

it held my interest

Emphasizes sustained attention.

it was of interest to me

A more formal way of stating that something was interesting.

it sparked my curiosity

Focuses on the origin of curiosity.

FAQs

How can I correct the phrase "it interested" in a sentence?

The phrase "it interested" is typically incorrect. To correct it, specify who or what was interested, such as "it interested me" or "I found "it interesting"".

What's a more grammatically sound alternative to "it interested"?

Instead of "it interested", you can say "it caught my attention", "it piqued my interest", or "I found it interesting".

Is "it interested to me" a correct way to express interest?

No, "it interested to me" is not correct. A better way to phrase this is "it was interesting to me" or "I was interested in it".

Can "it interested" ever be grammatically correct?

"It interested" is rarely correct on its own. It needs a direct object to indicate who experienced the interest. For example, you could say "it interested him" but even then it is far less common than saying "he was interested".