was taken

USAGE SUMMARY

"was taken" is a valid part of a sentence in written English.
It is the past tense of the verb "to take," and is typically used to describe an action that has been completed. For example: "The document was taken to the court house for filing."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He was taken aback.

The New Yorker

It was taken.

The New York Times - Magazine

For nothing was taken.

The New Yorker

Elizabeth was taken aback.

The New Yorker

Nothing was taken casually.

The New York Times - Arts

Every inch was taken.

The New Yorker

Givental was taken aback.

The New Yorker

Carthage was taken.

Encyclopedia Britannica

I was taken aback.

The New York Times

Neither action was taken.

The New York Times

She was taken aback.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was taken", ensure the subject of the sentence clearly identifies what or who experienced the action. For example, "The photograph was taken by a professional photographer" is more informative than "The photograph was taken."

Common error

Avoid using "was taken" when the active voice would be more direct and clear. For example, instead of "The decision was taken by the committee", consider "The committee made the decision".

Linguistic Context

"Was taken" functions as the passive voice construction of the verb "take", indicating that the subject of the sentence received the action, rather than performing it. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "was taken" is a common and grammatically sound passive voice construction used to indicate that the subject of a sentence received an action. Ludwig AI confirms its validity and provides numerous examples from reputable sources. It is most frequently found in News & Media, Science, and Encyclopedias, serving to emphasize the receiver of the action when the actor is unknown or unimportant. While the construction is generally neutral in tone, it's important to consider the context to choose the most effective voice, whether active or passive.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

has been taken

Changes the tense from past to present perfect, indicating an action completed before now.

had been taken

Shifts the tense to past perfect, indicating an action completed before another point in the past.

were taken

Changes the subject to plural, requiring the verb "were" instead of "was".

got taken

Replaces "was" with "got", resulting in a more informal and colloquial tone.

is taken

Shifts the tense to present, indicating a current or habitual action.

are taken

Changes the subject to plural and shifts the tense to present, indicating current or habitual action.

was acquired

Replaces "taken" with "acquired", implying possession or ownership was gained.

was captured

Substitutes "taken" with "captured", suggesting forceful taking or seizure.

was seized

Replaces "taken" with "seized", indicating a sudden or forceful taking.

was removed

Replaces "taken" with "removed", indicating something was moved away or eliminated.

FAQs

How do I use "was taken" in a sentence?

Use "was taken" to indicate that someone or something was acted upon. For example, "The book was taken from the library" shows the book as the recipient of the action.

What can I say instead of "was taken"?

You can use alternatives like "has been taken", "got taken", or "was removed", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "was taken" or "has been taken"?

"Was taken" refers to a single event in the past, while "has been taken" ("has been taken") indicates an event that happened at an unspecified time before now or has relevance to the present.

What's the difference between "was taken" and "got taken"?

"Was taken" is the standard passive form. "Got taken" ("got taken") is a more informal way of expressing the same idea, often implying a sense of surprise or being victimized.