was awaken

USAGE SUMMARY

The correct phrase is "was awakened".
Example: The sound of thunder caused a sudden jolt that awakened me from my sleep.

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

The second thing these homemade science projects did was awaken my sense of curiosity.

Huffington Post

Vela, who was interviewed for the Selena: 20 Years of Music Collection, reminisced that he was awaken from his sleep by Selena and Quintanilla III about the license for the song.

Wikipedia

A neo-nazi band Agrese 95 released a song titled "We shall go together and kill Opočenský." In 2003, Slavoj Hašek was awaken by commotion from outside of his house.

Wikipedia

Then, the volunteer was awaken by the hypnotist.

BioMed Research International

The problem of malignant hyperthermia (MH) was awaken in Russia in 2012, when 3 y.o.o

BMC Anesthesiology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

She was awakened by their brother screaming.

The New York Times

He was awakened by a noise.

The New York Times

"Our community spirit was awakened," she said.

The New York Times

He was awakened by being poked with a broom.

The New York Times - Health

Kelly was awakened by a call at home.

The New Yorker

He was awakened next morning with: "Good Morning!

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "was awakened" instead of "was awaken". The latter is grammatically incorrect. For example: "He was awakened by the sound of birds."

Common error

Avoid using "was awaken" in your writing. The correct passive past participle form is "awakened". "Awaken" is the base form of the verb, not the past participle.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was awaken" functions as a passive construction attempting to describe someone or something being brought out of sleep or a state of unawareness. However, it's grammatically incorrect, as confirmed by Ludwig AI; the correct form is "was awakened".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

40%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was awaken" is a grammatically incorrect attempt to form a passive construction describing the action of being brought out of sleep or awareness. As Ludwig AI clarifies, the correct form is "was awakened". Despite its presence in a few sources, including news and wiki articles, it's essential to avoid this phrase in formal writing. Instead, opt for "was awakened", "woke up", or other suitable alternatives depending on the intended nuance. This ensures clarity and grammatical accuracy in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was awakened

Uses the correct past participle form of the verb "awaken".

was wakened

Similar to "was awakened" but uses the verb "waken" instead.

awoke

A simpler, though less common, past tense form of "awaken".

woke up

A common and simple alternative to describe the action of ceasing to sleep.

was roused

Indicates being stirred or awakened by someone or something.

aroused from sleep

More formal and emphasizes the process of being roused.

stirred from slumber

A literary alternative, suggesting a gentle awakening.

came to consciousness

Focuses on regaining awareness rather than simply waking up.

regained consciousness

Similar to 'came to consciousness', but implies a period of unconsciousness.

roused oneself

Reflexive, implies one awakened without external influence.

FAQs

What is the correct form, "was awaken" or "was awakened"?

The correct form is "was awakened". "Awaken" is the base verb, while "awakened" is the past participle. So, passive constructions require the past participle.

Is "was awaken" ever correct in a sentence?

No, "was awaken" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The past participle form "awakened" should be used instead.

What does it mean to "be awakened"?

To "be awakened" means to have someone or something cause you to stop sleeping or to become conscious.

What are some alternative ways to say someone "was awakened"?

You could say they "woke up", "were roused", or "came to", depending on the context.