had been approached

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been approached" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone was contacted or solicited for something in the past, often in a passive voice context. Example: "The committee had been approached by several candidates interested in the position."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Enderson had been approached by police officers.

The Guardian

He had been approached by several dealers over the years.

The New Yorker

In fact, the church had been approached about ransom payments.

The New York Times

England said none of their players had been approached.

The Guardian - Sport

Some had been approached to perform the procedure.

The Guardian

Mr. Zeltmann said he had been approached by potential buyers.

The New York Times

That account differs from those of some potential buyers who said they had been approached.

The New York Times

About 12 percent said they had been approached about fixing a match.

The New York Times - Sports

I had been approached a few years ago to join Vistage by a client who belonged.

The New York Times

The National Theatre did not deny that Sir Kenneth had been approached over the role.

Independent

Mr. Doeringsfeld said he had been approached by several other companies interested in using the corridor.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been approached", ensure that the subject clearly identifies who was contacted and by whom, to maintain clarity and avoid ambiguity. For instance, "The company had been approached by several investors" is clearer than "They had been approached."

Common error

Avoid using "had been approached" without specifying who initiated the contact. Vague sentences like "The project had been approached" can confuse readers. Instead, specify who did the approaching: "The project had been approached by several contractors."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been approached" functions as a passive voice construction, indicating that the subject of the sentence was the recipient of an action. This typically involves someone contacting or making an offer to the subject. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Science

16%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

9%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had been approached" is a common and grammatically correct passive voice construction used to indicate that someone or something was contacted or solicited in the past. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is perfectly fine. It is frequently found in news and media contexts, as well as in scientific and business communications. To ensure clarity, it's best to specify who did the approaching. Alternatives include "was contacted", "was solicited", and "received an offer". This phrase serves to communicate past actions from the perspective of the recipient and maintains a neutral tone appropriate for various registers.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was contacted

Replaces the passive voice with a more direct construction.

was solicited

Emphasizes a request or invitation, often for something specific.

had been asked

A simpler phrasing indicating a request was made.

received an offer

Highlights the receipt of a proposal or invitation.

was invited

Focuses on the act of being asked to participate or attend.

was sounded out

Suggests a preliminary inquiry or exploration of interest.

was spoken to

A more general term for being addressed or talked to.

had received contact

Highlights the act of receiving communication.

had been canvassed

Implies a systematic effort to seek opinions or support.

had been propositioned

Suggests a formal proposal, often in a business context.

FAQs

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

The phrase "had been approached" indicates that someone or something was contacted or solicited in the past. For example, "The author "had been approached" by several publishers interested in her new novel."

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

"Had been approached" refers to a past perfect passive construction, indicating an action completed before another point in the past. "Was approached" is a simple past passive construction, indicating an action that happened at a specific point in the past. Example: "By the time the deal was finalized, the company "had been approached" by multiple buyers."

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

You can use alternatives like "was contacted", "was solicited", or "received an offer" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "they had been approach" instead of "they had been approached"?

No, "they had been approach" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is "they "had been approached"", which uses the past participle form of the verb "approach".