what was frozen

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "what was frozen" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when referring to something that has been frozen, typically in a context discussing food, liquids, or other items that can be preserved by freezing. Example: "I need to remember what was frozen in the back of the freezer." Alternative expressions include "what got frozen" and "what has been frozen."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

That deep hurt is more overtly present in the title track, a reflection on the cruel vicissitudes of showbiz which finds him exulting, "Today I took back what was stolen, and gave new life to what was frozen".

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

The pair manage a five-acre terraced farm in the Hudson Valley, where most of the restaurants' produce is harvested, insuring that patrons, as stated on the menu, "eat what the ground serves up rather than what is frozen and flown across the sea".

The New Yorker

So that's what's frozen now.

Huffington Post

Weather Eye: what is freezing fog?

The Times

What are freezing and melting?

BBC

There was only rain at the moment, but we could see what lay ahead the forecast was frozen on top of the oncoming traffic.

The New Yorker

"It had been hugely successful for a decade but by that point it wasn't in a good way," he says now. "Too much of what we were using was frozen".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

I was in fear of my life". He said he couldn't believe what was happening and was frozen in his seat.

Los Angeles Times

"What we should have done was frozen the Mercedes engine and leave everybody else to do what they want so they could have caught up," he suggested.

Independent

There was only rain at the moment, but we could see what lay ahead — the forecast was frozen on top of the oncoming traffic.

The New Yorker

Give departing guests "people bags" of their favorite leftovers or immediately freeze what can be frozen.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure the past tense 'was' correctly aligns with your narrative's timeline, particularly when contrasting a past frozen state with a subsequent thawing or revival.

Common error

Avoid using "what was frozen" when referring to a state that existed before another past event described in the simple past. In such cases, use the past perfect "what had been frozen" to maintain logical chronological order.

Linguistic Context

The phrase functions as a nominal relative clause, which allows it to act as a noun phrase within a sentence. In the examples provided by Ludwig, it often serves as the object of a transitive verb (e.g., 'gave new life to what was frozen').

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

25%

Academia

15%

Less common in

Science

8%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

According to Ludwig AI, "what was frozen" is a correct and effective way to describe items or concepts that existed in a frozen state in the past. It is particularly prevalent in News & Media and Academia when discussing topics ranging from climate change to culinary techniques. While the exact string is categorized as Rare, its structural variants (like "what is frozen" or "what has been frozen") are common across many fields. Writers should be mindful of the narrative timeline, ensuring that "was" is the appropriate tense for the context, and may consider alternatives like "that which was frozen" for a more elevated or formal tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

what had been frozen

Uses the past perfect to indicate something frozen prior to another past action.

that which was frozen

A more formal and slightly archaic construction using a demonstrative pronoun.

whatever was frozen

Adds an inclusive or indefinite nuance, suggesting anything that happened to be in a frozen state.

what is frozen

Shifts the timeframe to the present tense.

items that were frozen

Replaces the relative pronoun with a specific noun for greater clarity.

the frozen contents

Uses a definite article and noun phrase instead of a relative clause.

what got frozen

Uses the informal 'get' passive, common in casual speech.

what became frozen

Emphasizes the transition into a frozen state rather than just the state itself.

anything frozen

A more concise and less formal way to refer to frozen objects.

what was stored in ice

Provides a more descriptive and literal explanation of the freezing process.

FAQs

How do I use "what was frozen" in a sentence?

You can use it as a subject or object, such as: "The chef inspected what was frozen in the back of the walk-in." or "What was frozen has now begun to thaw."

What's the difference between "what was frozen" and "what is frozen"?

The primary difference is tense. Use "what was frozen" for past states and "what is frozen" for items currently in a freezer or frozen state.

Is "what was frozen" formal enough for academic writing?

Yes, it is perfectly acceptable in academic contexts. However, depending on the level of precision required, you might prefer more specific phrases like "the frozen samples" or "the solidified matter".

Can I say "what got frozen" instead?

You can use "what got frozen" in informal conversation, but it is generally avoided in professional or academic writing in favor of the 'be' passive.