was to ask

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "was to ask" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is often used to indicate the purpose or intention behind an action or event. Example: He was to ask her to marry him, but he got too nervous and ended up proposing in the most unexpected way.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

My job was to ask questions.

The Guardian

"My initial thought was to ask why," he said.

The New York Times

One way to find out was to ask engineers involved in product and production development.

International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics

No one was to ask any questions about fishing.

The New York Times

My first impulse was to ask for more time.

The New York Times

The goal was to ask them about their careers and gather a sense of their progression.

Cornell University

"What I learned in Chicago was to ask only for what you can get," he said.

The New York Times

Greeley's business was to ask Lincoln if he thought victory was still possible.

The New York Times

His response was to ask her what policy she thought would work.

The New York Times - Books

Scarborough's penultimate question was to ask Koch how he had learned such "graciousness".

The New Yorker

One thing Ms. Hunter did right was to ask her coach to sign a nondisclosure agreement.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the context clearly indicates who "was to ask" and what they were supposed to ask. Clarity is crucial for effective communication.

Common error

Avoid using "was to ask" in passive constructions where the actor is unclear. Instead of "Questions were to ask", specify who was supposed to ask the questions, such as "The journalists "were to ask" probing questions."

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "was to ask" is to express a planned or expected action, specifically related to questioning, inquiring, or requesting. Ludwig AI shows numerous examples where it indicates intention or duty. It functions as part of an infinitive phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

59%

Academia

18%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

8%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was to ask" is a versatile construction used to denote a planned or expected action of inquiring or requesting. Ludwig AI confirms that it is grammatically sound and widely used across diverse contexts, including news, academia, and science. Its neutral register makes it appropriate for various communication settings. To ensure clarity, specify the actor and the object of the question. Be mindful of passive voice constructions to avoid ambiguity. While alternatives like "intended to inquire" exist, "was to ask" remains a direct and effective way to express intended questioning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

intended to ask

Focuses on the intention behind the act of asking.

meant to inquire

Emphasizes the planned action of making an inquiry.

supposed to question

Highlights an expectation or obligation to ask questions.

had to request

Indicates a necessity or requirement to make a request.

tasked with asking

Specifies that asking was a designated responsibility.

assigned to inquire

Similar to tasked with asking, but with a slightly more formal tone.

given the duty to ask

Highlights that there was an assigned duty.

required to question

Indicates a formal requirement to question.

obligated to inquire

Indicates a formal obligation to inquire about something.

expected to request

Focuses on the expectation of making a formal request.

FAQs

How can I use "was to ask" in a sentence?

Use "was to ask" to express a planned or expected action of questioning or requesting. For example, "Her job "was to ask" David if he would engage in espionage."

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

Consider using "intended to inquire" or "tasked with asking" for a more formal tone. For example, instead of saying "His goal "was to ask"," you could say "He intended to inquire about the matter."

Is it correct to say "were to ask" instead of "was to ask"?

Use "were to ask" with plural subjects (e.g., "They were to ask") and "was to ask" with singular subjects (e.g., "He was to ask").

What's the difference between "was going to ask" and "was to ask"?

"Was going to ask" implies an intention that may or may not have been carried out, while "was to ask" suggests a plan or expectation. For example, "He was going to ask her, but changed his mind" vs. "He "was to ask" her as part of the interview process."