was not asked

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was not asked" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone did not receive a request or inquiry about something. Example: "She felt overlooked because her opinion was not asked during the meeting."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Mr. Gore was not asked.

The New York Times

He was not asked to leave.

The New York Times - Sports

Mrs. Fair was not asked to testify.

The New York Times

Germany was not asked to participate.

The New York Times

"She was not asked to resign".

The New York Times

Whillans, however, was not asked.

The Guardian - Sport

But it was not asked.

The New York Times

She was not asked her opinion.

The Guardian

He was not asked about the meeting.

The New York Times

He was not asked to offer an opinion.

The New Yorker

"I was not asked to leave," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "was not asked" to clearly indicate that someone or something was not subject to a request or inquiry. This phrasing is especially useful in formal reports and journalistic contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "was not asked" when you mean something wasn't considered or assumed. "Was not considered" is more appropriate when something was simply overlooked, rather than directly omitted from questioning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was not asked" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject did not receive a request or inquiry. Ludwig shows its prevalent use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

32%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was not asked" is a common and grammatically sound passive construction used to indicate a lack of request or inquiry. Ludwig AI confirms its broad applicability, particularly in news reporting and scientific writing. Alternatives like "was not requested" or "was not consulted" can offer subtle nuances, but "was not asked" remains a versatile and clear choice for conveying a missed opportunity or absence of solicitation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was not requested

Replaces "asked" with "requested", implying a formal request was absent.

did not receive a request

Emphasizes the absence of a direct request.

was not invited

Suggests the person did not receive an invitation to participate.

was not given the opportunity

Highlights that the person didn't have a chance to be asked.

was not consulted

Indicates that the person's opinion or advice wasn't sought.

was not approached

Focuses on the lack of direct communication or contact.

was not prompted

Suggests the person didn't receive any prompting to take an action.

no one asked

A more direct and simpler way of expressing the absence of a question.

was not propositioned

Suggests the person didn't get offered a deal or suggestion.

was not solicited

Indicates that the person was not formally asked for something, like advice or opinion.

FAQs

How can I use "was not asked" in a sentence?

You can use "was not asked" to indicate that someone didn't receive a request or inquiry. For example: "He "was not asked" about his opinion on the matter."

What is a good alternative to "was not asked"?

Alternatives include phrases like "was not requested", "was not invited", or "was not consulted", depending on the specific context.

Which is correct, "was not asked" or "didn't ask"?

"Was not asked" is passive, focusing on the receiver of the action, while "didn't ask" is active, focusing on the actor. The choice depends on what you want to emphasize. For example, "He "was not asked"" emphasizes that he didn't receive a question, whereas "They didn't ask" emphasizes that they failed to pose a question.

What's the difference between "was not asked" and "wasn't inquired"?

"Was not asked" is more general and common, while "wasn't inquired" is more formal. "Wasn't inquired" specifically suggests a formal investigation or inquiry.