had been arrested

USAGE SUMMARY

The sentence 'had been arrested' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to an action that took place in the past and had consequences that are still relevant today. For example, "He had been arrested for tax evasion five years ago and is still paying the price."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Within hours, Fonseka had been arrested.

The New Yorker

Some had been arrested on Friday.

The New York Times

A number of accomplices had been arrested.

The New Yorker

He said 153 people had been arrested.

The New York Times

Officials said four suspects had been arrested.

The New York Times

He said 18 demonstrators had been arrested.

The New York Times

Sandusky had been arrested that weekend.

The New York Times - Sports

Madoff had been arrested that morning.

The New Yorker

Twenty-two executives had been arrested.

The New York Times

Some had been arrested.

The New York Times

They had been arrested.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been arrested" to emphasize the completed nature of the arrest at a specific point in the past, especially when discussing subsequent events or consequences.

Common error

Avoid using "had been arrested" when a simple past tense ("was arrested") suffices. Use the past perfect only when you need to emphasize that the arrest happened before another past event. For example, instead of "He had been arrested yesterday, and the trial starts next week" which implies there are more arrests, write "He was arrested yesterday, and the trial starts next week"

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been arrested" functions as a past perfect passive construction, indicating that someone was arrested at a time prior to another point in the past. As noted by Ludwig AI, this construction is grammatically correct and commonly used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

96%

Science

2%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been arrested" is a grammatically sound and frequently used past perfect passive construction. As Ludwig AI confirms, it correctly indicates an action (being arrested) completed before another point in the past. Predominantly found in news and media, this phrase serves to provide crucial background information or context. Remember to use the past perfect tense only when the timing of the arrest relative to another past event is significant. By considering appropriate tense and available alternatives, you can effectively communicate the intended meaning with precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was placed under arrest

A more formal and legally precise way of saying someone was arrested.

was taken into custody

Emphasizes the legal aspect of being detained by authorities.

was detained

A more neutral term indicating temporary holding by authorities.

was apprehended

Focuses on the act of capture; less formal and direct.

was picked up

A more casual term for being arrested, often implying a routine procedure.

was seized

Suggests a forceful taking into possession.

faced arrest

Shifts the focus to the experience of arrest, rather than the completion.

was busted

An informal way of saying someone was arrested, often implying a minor offense.

was collared

Implies a more active capture by law enforcement.

was nicked

A British slang term for being arrested.

FAQs

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

Use "had been arrested" to indicate that an arrest occurred before a specific time in the past. For instance, "By the time I met him, he "had been arrested" three times."

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

"Was arrested" refers to a single event in the past, while "had been arrested" indicates an action completed before another point in the past. For example, "He was arrested yesterday" versus "He "had been arrested" before he committed the crime."

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

You can use alternatives like "was apprehended", "was taken into custody", or "was detained" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "has been arrested" instead of "had been arrested"?

The correct usage depends on the context. "Has been arrested" implies an arrest that has relevance to the present, while "had been arrested" refers to an arrest completed before another past event. For example: "He has been arrested now" (present perfect) vs "He "had been arrested" multiple times before" (past perfect).