was grateful that

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was grateful that" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to express appreciation or thankfulness for something that has happened or been done. Example: "She was grateful that her friends supported her during difficult times."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

I was grateful that my friend didn't say a word.

The New York Times

She was grateful that there are still buyers for that.

The New York Times

— I was grateful that I wasn't cooking with a grandmother.

The New York Times - Magazine

He was grateful that Maholm took him seriously.

The New York Times - Sports

And I was grateful that Nat was there.

The New York Times

I was grateful that his eyes were already closed.

The Guardian - Books

I was grateful that my insurance would pay for everything.

The New York Times - Health

I was grateful that there was something rather than nothing because there could be nothing.

University of California, Berkeley

I was grateful that we had delivered the warm clothing just in time.

The New York Times

He said he was grateful that the casino provided the space.

The New York Times

I was grateful that I didn't have to prepare the meal for 50.

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was grateful that" to express sincere appreciation for specific actions or situations. This phrase is appropriate for both formal and informal contexts, making it versatile for various writing styles.

Common error

Avoid starting multiple consecutive sentences with "I was grateful that". Vary your sentence structure by using synonyms like "I appreciated", or rephrasing to emphasize the action you are thankful for.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was grateful that" functions as a declarative expression of gratitude. It connects a subject with their feeling of thankfulness towards a specific event or situation. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatical and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

2%

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was grateful that" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to express appreciation for past events or actions. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread usage. It's frequently found in news and media, as well as academic writing, serving to convey thankfulness across various contexts. While versatile, it's advisable to avoid overuse by incorporating synonyms and varying sentence structures. The phrase is generally neutral in register, making it suitable for both formal and informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

felt thankful that

Replaces "grateful" with "thankful", a direct synonym, keeping the sentence structure the same.

appreciated that

Substitutes "grateful" with "appreciated", altering the emotional tone slightly towards acknowledgement rather than deep gratitude.

was thankful for the fact that

Adds "for the fact" to provide additional emphasis to the reason for thankfulness.

felt a sense of gratitude that

Replaces the adjective "grateful" with a noun phrase "sense of gratitude", adding more formality.

was relieved that

Indicates a feeling of relief, which overlaps with gratitude when escaping a negative outcome.

acknowledged with thanks that

More formal and emphasizes acknowledgment alongside gratitude.

expressed gratitude that

Emphasizes the act of expressing thankfulness, suitable for formal contexts.

recognized with appreciation that

Highlights recognition and value alongside appreciation, adding nuance.

gave thanks for the reason that

Shifts the focus towards giving thanks, possibly in a religious or spiritual context.

was indebted because

Expresses a sense of indebtedness or obligation, going beyond simple thankfulness.

FAQs

How can I use "was grateful that" in a sentence?

Use "was grateful that" to express appreciation for something specific. For example, "I was grateful that she helped me with the project" or "He was grateful that the rain stopped before the game".

What are some alternatives to "was grateful that"?

You can use alternatives like "appreciated that", "felt thankful that", or "was relieved that" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "I am grateful for that" instead of "I was grateful that"?

Yes, both are correct, but they indicate different time frames. "I am grateful for that" expresses present gratitude, while "I was grateful that" expresses gratitude for something in the past.

What's the difference between "was grateful that" and "felt grateful that"?

"Was grateful that" states a fact of being grateful, while "felt grateful that" emphasizes the emotion experienced. The difference is subtle, but "felt grateful that" adds emotional depth.