was arrived

USAGE SUMMARY

"was arrived" is not a correct and usable phrase in written English.
The verb "arrive" is intransitive, meaning it does not take a direct object. Therefore, it does not require a helping verb like "was" to form the past tense. "Arrived" is already past tense, so saying "was arrived" would be redundant and incorrect. Correct alternatives to "was arrived" could include: - "We arrived at the airport on time." - "The package arrived at my house yesterday." - "They had already arrived by the time I got there." Example sentence: "I was surprised when the train arrived early."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Perspective, such as it was, arrived eight years ago.

The New York Times - Sports

"Each of these decisions was arrived at carefully," she said.

The New York Times

Moreover, their sound was arrived at entirely by accident.

The Guardian - Music

But that assertion was arrived at through bookkeeping gimmickry.

The New York Times

The figure was arrived at by Roy Meadow, a paediatrician.

The Guardian

The N.F.L.'s current partnership was arrived at after traumatic contract negotiations and player lockouts.

The New Yorker

The process by which it was arrived at is not central".

The New Yorker

Asked how Bush's "more than sixty" was arrived at, Battey said, "I have no idea".

The New Yorker

Once the azimuth was calculated, the range was arrived at by measuring off the map.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The decision was arrived at "with great reluctance and after much deliberation".

The New York Times

Last night, after these mid-week exchanges, an accommodation of sorts was arrived at.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the passive construction "was arrived". Instead, use active voice constructions like "the package arrived" or past perfect constructions like "the team had arrived" for clarity and grammatical correctness.

Common error

The verb "arrive" is intransitive; it doesn't take a direct object. A common mistake is to treat it as transitive by using a passive construction, which is grammatically incorrect. Avoid this by using "arrive" in active voice.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was arrived" functions as an incorrect passive construction. The verb "arrive" is intransitive, meaning it does not take a direct object and should not be used in the passive voice. As Ludwig AI points out, the examples provided are not considered correct English usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

35%

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was arrived" is generally considered grammatically incorrect because "arrive" is an intransitive verb. While Ludwig provides numerous examples of its usage, including from reputable sources, it's best to avoid this construction in formal writing. As Ludwig AI clarifies, using the active form, such as "arrived", or alternative phrases like "had arrived" is recommended for clarity and correctness. The presence of this phrase across various contexts, including science and news, highlights a potential for error, but doesn't validate its grammatical standing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had arrived

Uses the past perfect tense to emphasize the completion of the action before another point in time.

has arrived

Expresses that something has reached its destination or a particular point in time.

reached

Directly states the act of getting to a destination or achieving something.

got to

An informal way of saying 'arrived at' or 'reached'.

came to

Indicates movement towards a destination or a conclusion.

ended up

Describes the final state or location after a series of actions.

was attained

Focuses on achieving a goal or reaching a certain level.

was achieved

Emphasizes the successful completion of a task or reaching a target.

was finalized

Highlights that a process or decision has been brought to a conclusion.

ultimately arrived

Adds emphasis to the eventual arrival after a period of time or effort.

FAQs

Is "was arrived" grammatically correct?

No, "was arrived" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The verb "arrive" is intransitive and does not take a direct object. The correct form is simply /s/arrived.

What are some correct alternatives to "was arrived"?

Instead of "was arrived", you can use phrases like /s/arrived, /s/had+arrived, or /s/reached depending on the context.

How can I use "arrive" correctly in a sentence?

Use "arrive" in active voice. For example: "The guests arrived early" or "The solution arrived unexpectedly."

What's the difference between "arrived" and "was arrived"?

"Arrived" is the simple past tense of "arrive" and is grammatically correct. "Was arrived" is an incorrect passive construction. It's best to stick with the active form: /s/arrived.