was invited

USAGE SUMMARY

'was invited' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to talk about someone receiving an invitation. For example: Tim was invited to the party by his friends.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

"I was invited.

The New York Times

Certainly he was invited".

Independent

Neither was invited.

The New Yorker

She was invited.

The New York Times

Everyone was invited.

The New York Times

But I was invited.

The Guardian - Arts

He was invited to hazard a guess.

The New Yorker

He was invited by telephone, and accepted.

The New Yorker

I was invited to a dinner party.

The New York Times

I was invited to his fund-raiser.

The New York Times - Sports

Everyone in the building was invited.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was invited" to clearly and directly state that someone received an invitation to an event or opportunity. It's a straightforward way to convey inclusion.

Common error

Avoid confusing passive voice ("was invited") with active voice or using incorrect tenses. For instance, don't mistakenly say "invited to" without the auxiliary verb "was" unless it's part of a different sentence structure.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was invited" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject received an invitation. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and widespread usage. It's frequently employed to convey that someone was asked to attend an event or participate in an activity.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

8%

Science

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was invited" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive construction that indicates someone received an invitation. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage. It's commonly found in News & Media, but also appears in Wiki and Scientific sources. The phrase serves the purpose of informing others about an invitation, implying inclusion or opportunity. While the register is generally neutral, its use spans various contexts. When using "was invited", ensure you are not confusing passive with active voice or using incorrect tenses, and remember to consider the specific event to provide clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

received an invitation

Focuses on the act of receiving the invitation itself, rather than the state of being invited.

had been invited

Emphasizes that the invitation occurred at some point in the past, with potential implications for the present.

was asked to attend

Highlights the request to be present at an event.

was requested to participate

Emphasizes a formal request to take part in something.

was called upon to join

Suggests a more significant or formal invitation, often implying a duty or honor.

was selected to participate

Indicates a process of selection or filtering before the invitation.

was chosen to attend

Similar to "was selected", but may imply a less formal selection process.

was given an opportunity to

Highlights the chance or possibility offered by the invitation.

was welcome to join

Suggests a general openness and acceptance, rather than a specific invitation.

gained admittance

Focuses on the act of being allowed to enter or participate, sometimes implying effort or privilege.

FAQs

How can I use "was invited" in a sentence?

You can use "was invited" to indicate that someone received an invitation. For example: "She "was invited" to the conference", or "He "was invited" to speak at the event".

What's a more formal alternative to "was invited"?

A more formal alternative could be "received an invitation" or "was requested to attend". For instance, "He "received an invitation" to the gala" conveys a similar meaning in a more formal tone.

What's the difference between "was invited" and "is invited"?

"Was invited" indicates that the invitation occurred in the past, while "is invited" suggests a present or ongoing invitation. "She "was invited" last week" versus "She "is invited" to all future meetings".

Can I use "was invited" in a negative context?

Yes, you can. For example, "He "was not invited" to the party" indicates exclusion. Or "Although she "was invited", she chose not to attend" shows an invitation was extended but not accepted.