had almost been

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had almost been" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was very close to happening in the past but ultimately did not occur. Example: "She had almost been selected for the role, but another candidate was chosen at the last minute."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And Tess had almost been Shirley.

The New York Times - Magazine

The office had almost been closed a few years earlier.

The New York Times

But Mr. Kohl had almost been here before.

The New York Times

She had almost been passed over after complaining that the traditional production was boring.

The New York Times - Arts

Instead, like favorite stuffed animals, these fragile films had almost been loved to death.

The New York Times

A knock on her door made Vivian realize that she had almost been asleep.

The New Yorker

We had almost been written off and then 'Ghost Town' came out of the blue".

Independent

He had almost been killed once, by a poisonous snake bite.

The Washington Post

Mexico's greatest writer had almost been predestined for the cult of the Revolution.

The New York Times

I had almost been carrying it around as a prop for months.

The Guardian

Mr. Garcia said he had robbed drug dealers and had almost been killed.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had almost been" to clearly express that an event or state approached realization but did not fully occur. Ensure the context provides clarity on why the event didn't happen.

Common error

Avoid using "had almost been" when the event definitively occurred. This phrase implies incompletion, so ensure the sentence reflects the intended meaning of near occurrence without full realization.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had almost been" functions as a modal auxiliary construction in the past perfect tense. It indicates a potential action or state that approached completion but did not fully materialize. As Ludwig AI highlights, this construction effectively conveys near misses or averted outcomes.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had almost been" is a versatile construction used to express the near occurrence of an event or state in the past, as confirmed by Ludwig. Predominantly found in news and media, it's grammatically sound and widely understood. When using the phrase, make sure the context clearly indicates that the event did not actually happen. For alternatives, consider options like "nearly was" or "came close to being". With these tips, you can use "had almost been" effectively to convey nuanced meanings in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nearly was

This alternative simplifies the phrasing while retaining the core meaning of a near occurrence.

was close to being

Similar to "came close to being", this option highlights the proximity to a particular state.

came close to being

This phrase adds a bit more emphasis to the nearness of the event or state.

was on the verge of being

This alternative suggests an imminent state that was close to materializing.

virtually was

Similar to 'nearly was', this phrase conveys the close proximity to a state or event.

verged on

A more concise way of saying something nearly reached a certain condition.

all but was

This phrase indicates that something was so close to being a certain way that it was practically that way.

just about was

An informal way to convey that something was very close to being something else.

narrowly avoided being

This phrase emphasizes the avoidance of a particular outcome.

was within a hair's breadth of being

This idiom intensifies the idea of something being extremely close to happening.

FAQs

How can I use "had almost been" in a sentence?

Use "had almost been" to indicate that something was very close to happening or being a certain way, but it ultimately did not. For example, "The deal "had almost been" finalized before the negotiations fell through."

What's a simpler way to say "had almost been"?

You can use alternatives like "nearly was", "came close to being", or "was almost" to convey a similar meaning more concisely.

Is there a difference between "had almost been" and "was almost"?

"Had almost been" typically refers to a past event that nearly happened but didn't, emphasizing the hypothetical completion. "Was almost" can also refer to a present or future event that is close to happening. Context is crucial in determining the best choice.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when using "had almost been"?

Avoid using "had almost been" when the event actually did happen; this phrase suggests the event did not fully occur. Also, ensure the surrounding context clarifies why the event did not come to pass.