"i was awake" vs "I was awoken"

Question

"i was awake" vs "I was awoken"

Both phrases are correct, but they have different meanings and usage. 'I was awoken' is the passive form of 'someone woke me up,' indicating that someone else caused the awakening. 'I was awake' simply states that the person was not asleep at a specific time. They are not directly comparable as they convey different information.

Last Updated: March 20, 2024

This phrase is used to indicate that the person was conscious and not sleeping at a particular moment in the past.

Examples:

I was awake all night studying for the exam.
She was awake when the phone rang.
They were awake during the entire flight.
He was awake during the surgery.
The baby was awake for hours last night.

Alternatives:

I was not asleep.
I was conscious.
I was alert.
I was up.
I was not in a deep sleep.

This phrase is used to indicate that someone else caused the awakening. It is the past tense of 'I am awoken.'

Examples:

I was awoken by the sound of thunder.
She was awoken by her alarm clock.
They were awoken by the loud noise outside.
He was awoken from his deep sleep by a phone call.
The baby was awoken by a loud noise.

Alternatives:

Someone woke me up.
I was woken up.
I woke up.
I was awakened.
I was roused.

Answer 1

i was awake

The phrase 'I was awake' is correct and commonly used in English. It simply states that the person was not asleep at a specific time.

Answer 2

I was awoken

The phrase 'I was awoken' is correct and commonly used in English. It is the passive form of 'someone woke me up.'

"i was awake" vs "I was awoken"

i was awake

I was awoken

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