was threw

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was threw" is not correct in written English.
The correct form is "was thrown," which is the past participle of the verb "throw." Example: "The ball was thrown across the field."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

For its first decade, the Booker (as it then was) threw up some pretty insular, white, middle-class dominated shortlists.

The Guardian - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

Crockery was thrown.

The New York Times - Arts

"I was throwing up".

The New York Times - Sports

"Everyone was throwing bottles.

The New York Times

I was throwing everything".

The New York Times - Sports

Richard Serra was throwing lead.

The New Yorker

The case was thrown out.

The New York Times

"A hand grenade was thrown.

The New York Times

Who was throwing the flowers?

The New Yorker

The suit was thrown out.

The New Yorker

His body was thrown overboard.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct past participle form, "thrown", after "was" to form the passive voice. For example, say "The ball was thrown" instead of "The ball was threw".

Common error

Avoid using the simple past tense "threw" after the auxiliary verb "was". Remember that "was" requires the past participle form, which is "thrown".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was threw" is an incorrect attempt at forming the passive voice in the past tense. The auxiliary verb "was" requires the past participle form of the main verb, which is "thrown", not "threw". Ludwig AI confirms this grammatical error.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was threw" is a grammatical error. The correct form is "was thrown", which uses the past participle "thrown" after the auxiliary verb "was" to form the passive voice in the past tense. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase "was threw" is incorrect and should be avoided. Remember to use "was thrown" to accurately convey a past action where the subject is acted upon. Using the proper form ensures clear and effective communication. This error is often caused by confusing the past tense with the past participle. Therefore, always double-check your verb forms to ensure grammatical accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was thrown

This is the grammatically correct passive past form of the verb "to throw".

got thrown

Similar to "was thrown", but with a slightly more informal connotation.

had been thrown

Represents the past perfect passive form, indicating an action completed before another point in the past.

is thrown

This is the present passive form of "to throw".

are thrown

Indicates a plural subject in the present passive form.

were thrown

Indicates a plural subject in the past passive form.

was discarded

Replaces "thrown" with a synonym, indicating something being rejected or disposed of.

was launched

Replaces "thrown" with a synonym, focusing on the action of propelling something.

was hurled

Replaces "thrown" with a synonym, emphasizing a forceful throwing action.

was pitched

Replaces "thrown" with a synonym, especially relevant in contexts like baseball.

FAQs

What is the correct form, "was threw" or "was thrown"?

"Was threw" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "was thrown", which uses the past participle of the verb "throw".

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

Use "was thrown" to indicate that something was acted upon, such as "The bouquet was thrown at the wedding reception".

What are some alternatives to "was thrown"?

Depending on the context, alternatives include "was discarded", "was launched", or "was hurled".

Why is "was threw" considered grammatically incorrect?

"Was threw" is incorrect because "threw" is the simple past tense, not the past participle. The auxiliary verb "was" requires the past participle "thrown" to form the passive voice.