was took

USAGE SUMMARY

'was took' is not correct or usable in written English.
It should be written as 'was taken'. For example, "The book was taken from the library yesterday."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

41 human-written examples

There was little drama, and what action there was took place inside plastic boxes.

The New York Times

I don't think whoever it was took it because he liked me.

The Guardian - Books

But at least the third film, poor as it was, took place in the present day.

The Guardian - Film

The camp, as much fun as it was, took a toll.

The New York Times

Our path to nowhere, such as it was, took us past the stadium.

The New York Times

Johnson says in his speech he was saying there was took much inequality.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

18 human-written examples

I was taken aback.

The New York Times

Snook was taken aback.

The New Yorker

No action was taken.

The New York Times

"He was taking jerky.

The New York Times

Garber was taken aback.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use "was taken" instead of "was took". The latter is grammatically incorrect. For example, instead of saying 'The book was took from the table', say 'The book was taken from the table'.

Common error

Avoid using the base form of the verb (take) after "was". Always use the past participle (taken) in passive voice constructions. "Was took" suggests a misunderstanding of verb conjugation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "was took" is an incorrect past tense construction. It attempts to form a passive voice construction but fails due to the incorrect use of the past tense form "took" instead of the past participle "taken". Ludwig AI confirms this grammatical error.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

Science

0%

News & Media

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "was took" is identified by Ludwig AI as grammatically incorrect; the correct form is "was taken". This error stems from using the past tense ("took") instead of the past participle ("taken") in a passive construction. As such, the phrase lacks proper usage examples and authoritative sources. To avoid this mistake, always ensure the verb following "was" is in its past participle form. The intended purpose, to show that something received or had an action performed on it, is lost due to the error.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was taken

Corrects the grammatical error in "was took" by using the past participle form of the verb 'take'.

was captured

Replaces "took" with a synonym emphasizing the act of seizing or gaining possession.

was seized

Similar to 'was captured', but suggests a more forceful or abrupt action.

was acquired

Indicates obtaining something, often through a formal or legitimate process.

was obtained

Similar to 'was acquired', but can also imply effort or difficulty in getting something.

was removed

Focuses on the act of something being moved or taken away.

was confiscated

Emphasizes that something was taken, often due to a violation of rules or laws.

was commandeered

Highlights the act of something being taken for military or public use.

was stolen

Suggests something was taken illegally or without permission.

was usurped

Suggests something was taken by force or without legal right.

FAQs

What is the correct form, "was took" or "was taken"?

The correct form is "was taken". "Was took" is grammatically incorrect and should never be used.

How to correct the mistake of using "was took" in a sentence?

Replace "was took" with "was taken". For example, change 'The picture was took by John' to 'The picture was taken by John'.

What does it mean when something "was taken"?

When something "was taken", it means that someone or something received or acquired it, often indicating a passive action. For instance, 'The prize was taken by the winner' implies that the winner received the prize.

Are there instances where "took" can be used after "was"?

No, the past participle of "take" is "taken", so the correct usage in the passive voice is always "was taken". "Took" is the simple past tense and does not follow "was" in this construction.