were you anxious

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "were you anxious" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when inquiring about someone's feelings or state of mind in the past, particularly regarding anxiety. Example: "During the exam, were you anxious about your performance?"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

7 human-written examples

Were you anxious?

Independent

Q: During the huge success of "Friends," were you anxious to parlay your popularity into movies?

The New York Times - Magazine

Then they were asked three questions specifically about that day: "On that day, were you anxious or worried about your next headache episode?" "On that day, was there anything you could not do or did not do because you wanted to avoid getting a headache?" "On that day, did you feel completely free from all headache-related symptoms?".

The Journal of Headache and Pain

"On that day, were you anxious or worried about your next headache episode?" "On that day, was there anything you could not do or did not do because you wanted to avoid getting a headache?" "On that day, did you feel completely free from all headache-related symptoms?".

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Table 2 Questions on interictal and cumulative burdens attributable to headache Domain of enquiry Question Response options (optimum response first) Symptoms in the interictal period (questions specifically about the last day when the respondent did not have a headache) On that day, were you anxious or worried about your next headache episode?

The Journal of Headache and Pain

Q: Were you anxious when you got this project?

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Now what are you anxious to make room for?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"Gid... are you anxious to get back?" Warily, his friend turned to him.

The New Yorker

That is, are you anxious that the planet is slowly dying like in every JRPG ever because of human activity?

TechCrunch

What are you anxious about?

Huffington Post

I dreamt that I disappeared… Probing delicately to help the patient express himself the nurse asked: "What are you anxious about?

BMC Nursing

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When inquiring about past feelings, use "were you anxious" to directly address a person's state of mind at a specific time. For example, "Before the presentation, were you anxious about speaking in public?"

Common error

Avoid using "anxious" to mean "eager". While sometimes used interchangeably, "anxious" primarily refers to worry or unease, while "eager" denotes enthusiasm or anticipation. Use "eager" to express excitement about something positive.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "were you anxious" functions as an interrogative clause, specifically a question. It seeks to determine if someone experienced anxiety in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its usability.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Academia

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "were you anxious" is a grammatically correct and usable question in English, designed to inquire about someone's past state of anxiety. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a valid way to ask about past feelings of worry or unease. Although "were you anxious" is relatively uncommon, it appears in various contexts, including news and media, and scientific publications. It's important to note the difference between "anxious" and "eager", avoiding the use of "anxious" when expressing excitement or anticipation. Alternatives like "did you feel anxious" or "were you nervous" offer similar ways to ask about someone's past emotional state.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

did you feel anxious

Changes the verb from "were" to "did feel", offering a more direct way to ask about anxiety.

did you experience anxiety

Replaces the adjective "anxious" with the noun "anxiety", focusing on the experience of the feeling.

were you nervous

Substitutes "anxious" with "nervous", a closely related synonym.

did you have any anxiety

Phrases the question to inquire about the presence of anxiety in general.

were you stressed

Replaces "anxious" with "stressed", another related feeling of unease.

were you apprehensive

Uses the word "apprehensive" instead of "anxious", offering a more formal tone.

were you uneasy

Uses the word "uneasy" instead of "anxious", focusing on a sense of discomfort.

were you worried

Substitutes "anxious" with "worried", focusing on concern about a specific outcome.

did you feel concerned

Replaces "anxious" with "concerned", which can imply a broader sense of worry or care.

were you in a state of anxiety

Phrases the question to inquire about a specific state of being.

FAQs

How can I use "were you anxious" in a sentence?

Use "were you anxious" to ask someone about their feelings of anxiety or worry in the past. For example: "Before the trip, "were you anxious" about flying?"

What can I say instead of "were you anxious"?

You can use alternatives like "did you feel anxious", "were you nervous", or "were you worried" depending on the context.

Is it correct to use "anxious" to mean "eager"?

While some people use "anxious" to mean "eager", it's generally more accurate to use "eager" to express excitement or anticipation. "Anxious" primarily conveys worry or unease.

What's the difference between "were you anxious" and "did you feel anxious"?

Both phrases are similar, but ""were you anxious"" directly asks about a state of being, while "did you feel anxious" asks about the experience of the feeling. The difference is subtle and often negligible.