it was comes

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was comes" is not correct and not usable in written English.
It appears to be a grammatical error, as "was" and "comes" cannot be used together in this way. Example: "It was a surprise when he comes to the party." (This should be corrected to "It was a surprise when he came to the party.")

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

A very big man — drunk, as it was — comes storming up the aisle yelling and cursing.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

You knew it was coming.

The New York Times - Sports

We knew it was coming.

The New York Times

I knew it was coming.

The New York Times - Sports

"He knew it was coming.

The New York Times - Sports

It was coming, it was coming!

The Guardian - Books

It was coming from the church.

The New Yorker

It was coming for many years".

The New York Times - Sports

It was coming from all over.

The New York Times

"It was coming in a little wobbly.

Independent

We all knew it was coming".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase “it was comes” in your writing. It's grammatically incorrect. Use correct alternatives like "it happened" or "it occurred".

Common error

The common error is mixing past tense ("was") with a present tense verb ("comes"). Always ensure verb tenses are consistent within a sentence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase “it was comes” is an attempt to describe an event or occurrence, but it fails to do so grammatically. As Ludwig AI explains, the use of "was" (past tense) with "comes" (present tense) creates an incorrect verb construction.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase “it was comes” is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI highlights, it combines past and present tense verbs improperly. While there are limited examples of its use, they do not validate the phrase's correctness. Instead, consider using grammatically correct alternatives like "it happened" or "it occurred", to effectively convey your intended meaning. Given the grammatical error, this phrase is not suitable for formal writing and should be avoided in professional or academic contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it happened

Replaces the incorrect verb form with a simple statement of occurrence.

it occurred

Similar to "it happened", but may suggest a more formal or specific event.

it came to pass

A more formal and somewhat archaic way of saying something happened.

it transpired

Suggests that something became known or proved to be the case.

it materialized

Implies that something concrete or real came into existence.

it took place

Emphasizes the event's occurrence in a specific location or time.

it unfolded

Suggests a gradual reveal or development of events.

it went down

An informal way of saying something happened, often used for negative events.

it played out

Implies a process or sequence of events leading to a conclusion.

the incident happened

Focuses on a specific event, often one of some significance or concern.

FAQs

Why is "it was comes" grammatically incorrect?

The phrase "it was comes" is incorrect because "was" is a past tense form and "comes" is a present tense form. You can't mix these tenses this way. A correct past tense form would be "it came to pass" or you can use "it happened".

What are some alternatives to "it was comes" that I can use?

Instead of "it was comes", you can use phrases like "it happened", "it occurred", or "it came to pass" depending on the context you want to convey.

How can I avoid making similar grammatical errors in the future?

To avoid similar errors, pay close attention to verb tense consistency. Ensure that all verbs in a clause agree in tense, unless you have a specific reason to switch tenses to indicate a change in time.

Is there any context where "it was comes" might be acceptable?

No, there is no standard English context where "it was comes" is grammatically correct. It is considered a grammatical error. Always use a grammatically correct alternative.