it was took

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it was took" is not correct in written English.
The correct form should be "it was taken." Example: "The book was taken from the shelf without permission."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

10 human-written examples

But at least the third film, poor as it was, took place in the present day.

The Guardian - Film

The camp, as much fun as it was, took a toll.

The New York Times

Our path to nowhere, such as it was, took us past the stadium.

The New York Times

I took a huge spoonful of panna cotta, remarked on how delicious it was, took another bite and then put down my spoon.

The New York Times

On the appointed day, I went to Lubyanka, where Comrade Mayorova explained to me that the K.G.B.'s beauty contest, such as it was, took place in "private".

The New Yorker

A former disc jockey, Paul Gambaccini, told Panorama: "This horror, for that is what it was, took place while all of society was watching.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

It was taken.

The New York Times - Magazine

It was taken incorrectly.

Independent

Then it was taken down.

The New York Times

It was taking him out.

The New Yorker

(She was 27 when it was taken).

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct past participle form "taken" instead of "took" when constructing passive voice sentences. For example, use "it was taken" instead of "it was took".

Common error

Avoid using "took" as the past participle form of the verb "take". "Took" is the simple past tense, while "taken" is the past participle, which is needed after auxiliary verbs like "was", "has", or "had".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "it was took" functions incorrectly as a passive construction. In English, the passive voice requires the auxiliary verb "was" followed by the past participle of the main verb. "Took" is the simple past tense form, not the past participle, making the phrase grammatically flawed. Ludwig confirms this is an error.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "it was took" is considered grammatically incorrect in standard English. The correct form is "it was taken". As Ludwig AI indicates, using "took" instead of "taken" in passive voice constructions is a common error. Although it might appear in informal contexts, adhering to the correct grammatical form, "it was taken", ensures clarity and precision. When writing, always use "taken" as the past participle after auxiliary verbs like "was", "has", or "had". Using correct grammar will help you communicate your thoughts with greater clarity and precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it was taken

Corrects the grammatical error by using the proper past participle form of "take".

it had been taken

Emphasizes that the action of taking occurred before another point in the past.

it got taken

Uses a more informal phrasing to express the action of being taken.

it was removed

Indicates that something was taken away or eliminated.

it was seized

Implies that something was taken forcefully or officially.

it was appropriated

Suggests something was taken for a specific purpose or use.

it was extracted

Indicates something was carefully or deliberately removed.

it was confiscated

Suggests something was taken by an authority as a penalty.

it was commandeered

Implies that something was taken for military or public use.

it was stolen

Indicates something was taken illegally.

FAQs

What is the correct way to say "it was took"?

The correct way to say "it was took" is "it was taken". The word "taken" is the past participle of the verb "take", and it is the form that should be used after the auxiliary verb "was".

What other phrases can I use instead of "it was took"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "it was removed", "it was seized", or "it was stolen" instead of "it was took". The best alternative will depend on the specific meaning you want to convey.

Why is "it was took" grammatically incorrect?

"It was took" is grammatically incorrect because "took" is the simple past tense of the verb "take", while the past participle "taken" is required after the auxiliary verb "was" to form the passive voice.

How can I remember to use "taken" instead of "took" after "was"?

Think of other similar constructions where you use the past participle after auxiliary verbs, such as "it has been done" or "it had been seen". This can help you remember that "taken", not "took", is needed after "was".