was told to

USAGE SUMMARY

'was told to' is a grammatically correct and commonly used phrase in written English.
It is used to form the passive voice of verbs, and often expresses a sense of obligation. For example: She was told to come to the meeting on time.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He was told to desist.

The New Yorker

He was told to quit his job.

The New York Times

The left was told to shut up.

The Economist

He was told to stand aside.

The New Yorker

Instead, corporate America was told to wait.

The Economist

He was told to go to confession.

The New York Times

Susanoo was told to govern the sea.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Amini was told to leave at once.

The New Yorker

I was told to do icons".

The New York Times

Judy was told to go to bed.

The New Yorker

"It was told to us," one said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the verb following "was told to" is in the base form (infinitive without 'to').

Common error

Avoid using a gerund or past participle after "was told to". The correct structure is "was told to + base verb". For example, it should be "He was told to leave" not "He was told to leaving".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was told to" functions as a passive construction, indicating that the subject of the sentence received an instruction or directive. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Encyclopedias

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "was told to" is a grammatically sound and frequently used passive construction to indicate the reception of instructions or directives. According to Ludwig, it is commonly used in News & Media, Encyclopedias, and Scientific contexts, making it a versatile phrase for various writing styles. It's crucial to follow it with the base form of the verb and remember that this construction emphasizes the recipient of the message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was instructed to

Highlights a formal command or direction given.

was required to

Highlights a mandatory obligation or necessity.

was directed to

Indicates guidance or a specific path advised.

was ordered to

Conveys a strong sense of command or authority.

received instructions to

Emphasizes the reception of specific directives or orders.

was advised to

Implies a recommendation or suggestion was given.

was requested to

Suggests a polite or formal appeal was made.

had been asked to

Indicates a prior request or invitation.

was encouraged to

Suggests a supportive prompting or urging.

was given the task to

Emphasizes the assignment of a specific responsibility.

FAQs

How do I use "was told to" in a sentence?

Use "was told to" to indicate that someone received an instruction or direction. For example: "She "was told to wait" in the lobby".

What's the difference between "was told to" and "was asked to"?

"Was told to" implies a more direct instruction, whereas "was asked to" suggests a polite request. The first indicates authority or a command, while the second indicates a request or invitation.

What are some alternatives to "was told to"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "was instructed to", "was directed to", or "was advised to" as alternatives.

Is it correct to say "was tell to" instead of "was told to"?

No, "was tell to" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is "was told to", using the past participle of 'tell'.