I had been

USAGE SUMMARY

"I had been" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it in the past perfect tense to describe an action or state of being that was completed prior to another action or event in the past. For example, "I had been struggling with the same problem for days before I found the right solution."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Yes, I had been.

The New York Times

I had been ambushed.

The New Yorker

I had been rejected.

The New York Times

I had been warned.

The New York Times - Travel

Apparently I had been mistaken".

The New York Times

I had been a kid.

The New York Times

I had been scrupulously careful.

The New York Times

I had been so lucky.

The New Yorker

I had been that lonely".

The New Yorker

"I had been ridden hard".

The New York Times

If I had been smiling.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "I had been" to clearly establish that an action or state occurred before another point in the past. This helps to create a clear timeline of events in your narrative.

Common error

Avoid using the simple past tense when the past perfect ( "I had been") is needed to show that one action preceded another. For example, instead of saying 'I arrived after I was waiting', use 'I arrived after "I had been" waiting'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "I had been" functions as part of the past perfect continuous tense, indicating an action or state that continued for some time before another action or point in the past. As Ludwig AI suggests, this construction helps establish a sequence of events. It's prevalent in narrative writing to provide background context.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

96%

Science

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "I had been" is a grammatically correct and very common phrase used to form the past perfect continuous tense. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively illustrates actions or states that occurred continuously before another event in the past. This phrase is frequently found in news and media, as well as other forms of writing. To ensure clarity in your writing, use "I had been" to clearly establish the timeline of events, and avoid confusing it with simple past tense or present perfect tense. Considering its function and usage, mastering this phrase will greatly enhance the clarity and flow of your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Before then, I had

This alternative emphasizes the temporal sequence, highlighting what preceded a particular event.

Previously, I was

Similar to 'Prior to that', but more concise, emphasizing that something happened at an earlier time.

Prior to that, I was

Explicitly specifies that the state existed before a certain point, adding clarity.

Up until that point, I was

Specifies a clear endpoint for the past state, emphasizing its duration.

I was

This alternative offers a simpler construction using the past simple, suitable when the prior action's duration isn't emphasized.

I was once

This alternative implies a past state or identity that has changed or ended.

I had the experience of

Changes the construction to emphasize the experience aspect, rather than a continuous action.

I have been

Shifts the focus to a present state resulting from a past action, unlike "I had been" which strictly refers to the past.

I found myself

Implies a realization or discovery of a state, differing from a planned or known situation.

I used to be

Indicates a past habit or state that is no longer true, differing from a single completed action.

FAQs

How do I use "I had been" in a sentence?

"I had been" is used to indicate an action or state that was in progress before another action happened in the past. For example, ""I had been" working all day when the phone rang."

What's the difference between "I had been" and "I was"?

"I was" describes a state or action at a specific point in the past, while "I had been" indicates a continuous action or state that occurred before another action in the past. For instance, "I was tired" (at that moment), versus ""I had been" running, so I was tired" (running preceded the tiredness).

What can I say instead of "I had been"?

Depending on the context, you could use "previously", "before that", or simply "I was", but ensure the meaning remains accurate.

Is it correct to say "I have been" instead of "I had been"?

While similar, "I have been" (present perfect) connects a past action to the present, whereas "I had been" (past perfect) strictly refers to actions completed before a specific time in the past. Choose based on whether you want to emphasize the present relevance.