was to survive

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase 'was to survive' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to emphasize the intention or planned action of someone or something. Example: "The only way the ship's crew was to survive was to find land quickly."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

However, given the 10 fold difference in PrP survival in the presence of manganese, if PrP was to survive it is mostly likely to be in a manganese rich soil matrix.

Plosone

His first goal was to survive that difficult early stretch.

The New York Times - Sports

You cannot imagine how lucky he was to survive".

The New York Times

"The first thing was to survive," Mr. Sagan said.

The New York Times - Arts

My prime aim in the early months was to survive.

The Guardian - Business

If the system was to survive, it had to be kept rigidly in place.

Independent

Under Stalin, artists weren't dissidents; all they hoped was to survive and write.

The New York Times

Now a serious young woman of 22, she reflects on how lucky she was to survive.

The Guardian

If Islamic Jihad was to survive, it would have to be outside Egypt.

The New Yorker

If Detroit was to survive, Corker was saying, it would have to become more like Smyrna.

The New Yorker

He concluded that important and fundamental reforms were needed if Iran was to survive as a sovereign state.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "was to survive", ensure the context clearly establishes the conditions or actions necessary for survival. This helps to emphasize the importance of those conditions.

Common error

Avoid using "was to survive" when a simple past tense like "survived" is more appropriate. "Was to survive" implies a condition or plan that needed to be met for survival, not a statement of completed survival.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was to survive" functions as an infinitive phrase expressing a necessary condition or purpose. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct. It often appears in contexts where the speaker wants to emphasize that survival was contingent on a specific action or circumstance.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Encyclopedias

30%

Science

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was to survive" is a grammatically sound and commonly used expression to emphasize the conditions necessary for someone or something to continue existing. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, highlighting its frequent use in News & Media, Encyclopedias, and Scientific contexts. Key takeaways include ensuring clarity in establishing the circumstances for survival and avoiding confusion with simple past tenses. Alternative phrases like "needed to endure" or "had to pull through" offer similar meanings, adding versatility to your writing. Remember, "was to survive" underlines the critical actions for overcoming challenges, making it a powerful tool in conveying precariousness and necessity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

vital to remain

This underscores the necessity of staying in existence or a specific state.

needed to endure

This emphasizes the necessity of bearing hardship to continue existing.

required to persist

Highlights the condition of needing to continue despite obstacles.

had to pull through

This implies overcoming a difficult situation to survive.

necessary to withstand

It emphasizes resisting pressure or difficulty to survive.

essential to last

This emphasizes the importance of continuing for a long duration.

imperative to continue

It stresses the high importance of keep going to survive.

was obliged to live

Highlights the condition of needing to keep living in order to survive.

had to scrape by

It implies to just barely survive.

was destined to prevail

It suggests a predestined outcome of survival, often against the odds.

FAQs

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

Use "was to survive" to indicate a condition or necessity for survival. For example, "The company's only option "was to survive" the crisis by cutting costs."

What are some alternatives to "was to survive"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "needed to endure", "had to pull through", or "required to persist". These phrases all convey a similar sense of needing to continue existing under challenging circumstances.

When is it appropriate to use "was to survive" instead of "survived"?

"Was to survive" is used when discussing a future condition or plan that was necessary for survival. "Survived" is used when discussing a past event where survival actually occurred. For example, "Their goal "was to survive" the winter" versus "They survived the winter".

What does it mean when something "was to survive"?

It means that in order for something to continue existing or functioning, it needed to overcome a specific challenge or meet certain conditions. It emphasizes the precariousness of the situation and the necessity of certain actions.