she was asked

USAGE SUMMARY

"she was asked" is a perfectly correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when someone has asked someone else a question. For example, "John asked her where she was going, and she was asked if she wanted to go with him."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

she was asked.

The New York Times

Why Vermont? she was asked.

The New York Times

She was asked what she heard next.

The New York Times

What is that?, she was asked.

The New York Times

"Because what?" she was asked.

The New York Times

She was asked to leave.

The New York Times

And plastic, she was asked?

The New York Times

she was asked during intermission?

The New York Times

Any 800 number, she was asked?

The New York Times

Who is to blame, she was asked.

The New York Times

Who is this Paul Theroux? she was asked.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using the active voice ("someone asked her") for a more direct and concise sentence structure, especially when the asker is relevant to the context.

Common error

Avoid overuse of the passive voice. While "she was asked" is grammatically correct, relying too heavily on passive constructions can make your writing sound weak or indirect. Vary your sentence structure by using the active voice where appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she was asked" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject (she) is the recipient of the action (being asked). Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent usage. It's used to report or narrate situations where a question was posed to someone.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

97%

Science

1%

Formal & Business

0.6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "she was asked" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to indicate that someone posed a question to a female individual. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's predominantly found in news and media contexts, serving to report inquiries and exchanges. When writing, remember that while grammatically sound, avoid overuse of passive voice and use the active voice where appropriate for clearer, more direct writing. Alternatives like "she was questioned" or "they asked her" can provide variety and emphasis in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she was questioned

Emphasizes a more formal or investigative tone compared to a simple question.

she was inquired of

A more formal and somewhat archaic alternative to "she was asked".

she received a question

Rephrases the passive construction to an active one focusing on receiving.

a question was put to her

Uses a more formal and indirect construction.

she faced the question

Highlights the act of confronting a question, implying potential difficulty.

she was prompted

Indicates the question served as a stimulus for a response.

she was called upon to answer

Suggests a degree of obligation or expectation to provide an answer.

the question directed at her

Focuses on the direction of the question, rather than the act of asking.

they asked her

Transforms the sentence from the passive to the active voice, focusing on the asker.

someone posed a question to her

Highlights the act of 'posing' a question, implying a deliberate or formal inquiry.

FAQs

How is "she was asked" used in a sentence?

"She was asked" is used to indicate that someone posed a question to a female individual. For instance, "she was asked about the project" implies someone inquired about the project from her.

What are some alternatives to "she was asked"?

Alternatives include "she was questioned" (suggesting a more formal inquiry), "she was inquired of" (a more formal and archaic phrasing), or "they asked her" (switching to the active voice).

When should I use the passive voice "she was asked" instead of the active voice?

Use the passive voice when the person performing the action (asking) is unknown, unimportant, or obvious from the context. Also, use it when you want to emphasize the receiver of the action (she) rather than the actor.

Is it incorrect to start a sentence with "she was asked"?

No, it is not incorrect. Starting a sentence with "she was asked" is grammatically sound and can be effective for emphasis or stylistic variation. For example: "She was asked to explain the situation."