was being fed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'was being fed' is grammatically correct and is commonly used in written English. You can use it to refer to an action in the past that continued for an extended period of time. For example: When she arrived at the zoo, the elephant was being fed her daily meal of hay and fruit.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She suggested that the Chronicle was being fed opposition research.

The New Yorker

The information was being fed back to the government.

The Guardian - Arts

In California the coyote that killed a young girl was being fed by the family.

The New York Times

She was being fed her lines off stage, but she never let on.

The New York Times - Health

Except the bread and milk, which was being fed him on my orders.

The New Yorker

He was being fed through a nasogastric tube, used in conjunction with an electric pump.

The Guardian

A nearly linear increase in OD600 over time was observed while glucose or ethanol was being fed.

Nature

According to those, the pooch stuck around the cemetery because it was being fed by visitors and workers.

The Washington Post

In one corner, a mother changed her baby's nappy; in another, a new-born was being fed.

The Times

American officials said new intelligence information was being fed into a long-delayed National Intelligence Estimate on Iran's nuclear program.

The New York Times

Neither melamine nor cyanuric acid was detected in concentrated feed that was being fed to the cows.

Journal of Dairy Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using the passive voice construction "was being fed", ensure that the actor performing the feeding action is either unknown, unimportant, or deliberately omitted to maintain focus on the recipient of the action.

Common error

Avoid using "was being fed" when you intend to emphasize the agent performing the action. If the agent is important, use an active voice construction like "someone fed" or "they fed".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was being fed" functions as a passive progressive verb form. It indicates an action that was ongoing in the past. Examples from Ludwig show this in various contexts, such as a patient receiving intravenous feeding or an animal receiving food. As Ludwig AI suggests, this is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

20%

Academia

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was being fed" is a grammatically sound and commonly used passive progressive verb form indicating an ongoing action of providing nourishment or information in the past. Ludwig's analysis reveals its frequent appearance in news and media, as well as in scientific and academic contexts. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, it's essential to use it appropriately, considering whether the emphasis should be on the recipient or the actor. Related phrases like "was nourished" or "was provided with food" can be alternatives depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been fed

Emphasizes the completed action of feeding, suggesting a past event.

was provided with food

A more explicit and literal alternative, detailing the act of supplying food.

was administered food

Highlights the formal or medical process of giving food.

was getting nutrition

Focuses on the aspect of receiving nutritional elements.

received nourishment

Focuses on the act of receiving food, highlighting the outcome rather than the process.

was given sustenance

Highlights the provision of necessities to maintain life.

was nourished

Emphasizes the state of being provided with essential nutrients.

was supplied with provisions

Focuses on the act of being equipped with essential supplies for survival or sustenance.

obtained nutrients

Highlights the active process of acquiring essential nutrients, shifting the focus from the giver to the receiver.

ingested

Focuses on the action of consuming food

FAQs

How is "was being fed" used in a sentence?

The phrase "was being fed" describes an ongoing action in the past where someone or something received food or nourishment. For example, "The patient "was being fed" intravenously after the surgery".

What are some alternatives to "was being fed"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "was nourished", "was provided with food", or "received nourishment" as alternatives to "was being fed".

Is it ever incorrect to use "was being fed"?

The phrase itself isn't incorrect, but its use might be inappropriate if you need to emphasize who performed the action. In such cases, active voice constructions are better. For example, instead of "The baby "was being fed"", you might say "The mother fed the baby".

What's the difference between "was fed" and "was being fed"?

"Was fed" indicates a completed action in the past, while ""was being fed"" implies an ongoing or repeated action in the past. For instance, "The dog was fed" means the dog received food at some point, whereas "The dog "was being fed"" suggests a process or a series of feedings over time.