it was not opening

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was not opening" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where something, such as a door, application, or container, failed to open as expected. Example: "I tried to access the file, but it was not opening, so I decided to restart my computer."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"If it was not opening the festival, it would seem strange," he added.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

"It wasn't opening itself".

The Guardian - Opinion

When it wasn't opened, a police officer climbed over.

Vice

"Say It Wasn't" opens the EP with sensitivity.

Vice

If it's not opened, they smash it down.

The Guardian

And good news!–it's not open only to the trade.

Forbes

In a statement Sunday, Energy Transfer Partners repeated its assertion that it was not open to alternative routes.

Los Angeles Times

Still, it was not open to traffic.

The New York Times

It is now part of the Newington-Cropsey Foundation museum, and we knew it was not open on weekends.

The New York Times

Alfabetic – What we did was a pilot, it was not open to public.

TechCrunch

It was not open for discussion or negotiation; the deal had been done.

Unicef

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "it was not opening", ensure the context clearly indicates what "it" refers to. This avoids ambiguity and makes your writing more precise.

Common error

Avoid using "it was not opening" when a more direct and active voice construction would be clearer and more concise. For example, instead of saying "the door was not opening", consider "the door wouldn't open".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was not opening" functions as a verb phrase in the past continuous tense, negated. It typically describes an action (opening) that was expected or attempted but did not occur. This is supported by Ludwig AI, which indicates the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

25%

Formal & Business

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Wiki

25%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was not opening" is a grammatically sound way to express the failure of something to open, as affirmed by Ludwig. Although relatively rare, its usage spans across diverse contexts like News & Media, Formal & Business, and Science. When using this phrase, make sure the subject is clear to avoid ambiguity, and consider active voice alternatives for greater clarity. Ludwig AI confirms that "it was not opening" is correct and can be used to describe a situation where something didn't open as expected.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it wouldn't open

Uses a contraction and a modal verb to express inability to open.

it failed to open

Emphasizes the failure aspect of the action.

it refused to open

Implies a deliberate resistance to opening.

it remained closed

Focuses on the state of being closed rather than the action of opening.

it did not commence opening

A more formal and emphatic way of saying it did not start to open.

the opening did not occur

Uses a nominalization to describe the lack of an opening event.

it wasn't being opened

Changes the focus to the lack of someone opening it.

it proved impossible to open

Highlights the difficulty or impossibility of opening.

it resisted opening

Suggests active resistance to being opened.

it was stuck shut

Describes the state of being firmly closed and unable to open.

FAQs

How can I use "it was not opening" in a sentence?

You can use "it was not opening" to describe a situation where something failed to open as expected. For example: "I tried to access the file, but "it was not opening", so I restarted my computer."

What are some alternatives to "it was not opening"?

You can use alternatives like "it wouldn't open", "it failed to open", or "it remained closed" depending on the context.

Is "it was not opening" grammatically correct?

Yes, "it was not opening" is grammatically correct. It uses the past continuous tense in the negative form to describe an ongoing action that did not occur.

What's the difference between "it was not opening" and "it did not open"?

"It was not opening" suggests an ongoing attempt or expectation that was unfulfilled, while "it did not open" is a simple statement that something did not open at a specific point in time. The continuous form implies a process or an expectation of a process, whereas the simple past tense is a simple past state. "It did not open".