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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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had been brought

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been brought" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to talk about something that happened in the past. For example, "The kids had been brought to the park by their parents."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

No criminal charges had been brought.

Both had been brought up as Baptists.

News & Media

The Guardian

Her son's body had been brought home five months earlier.

News & Media

The New York Times

The army had been brought directly into the political arena.

Nellie Louisa Machin had been brought up a Methodist.

News & Media

The New Yorker

I had been brought to Paciano by whales.

But not before a successful prosecution had been brought.

News & Media

The Guardian

He had been brought in by ambulance three days earlier.

Rashford had been brought off at half-time against Tottenham.

Pete had been brought up in care in Nottingham.

News & Media

The Guardian

He said no charges had been brought against the officers.

News & Media

The New York Times
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been brought" to emphasize that an action of bringing occurred before another point in the past. For instance, "The evidence had been brought forward before the trial began."

Common error

Avoid using "had been brought" when a simple past tense is sufficient. For example, instead of "The package had been brought yesterday", use "The package was brought yesterday" if the timing is clear.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

86%

Authority and reliability

4.6/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been brought" functions as the past perfect passive form of the verb "bring". It indicates that something was transported, introduced, or presented at a time prior to a specific point in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Encyclopedias

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Academia

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been brought" is the past perfect passive form of "bring", indicating an action of bringing that was completed before another point in the past. As Ludwig AI states, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in many contexts. It's commonly found in neutral to formal writing, including news reports, encyclopedias, and scientific publications. When using this phrase, ensure that you're emphasizing the sequence of past events and choose it over simpler past tenses when the order matters. Remember also to consider the alternatives like "was transported", "was delivered", and "was introduced" to add variety to your writing.

FAQs

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

Use "had been brought" to indicate an action of bringing that was completed before another action in the past. For example, "The suspect's past actions had been brought to the attention of the authorities before the crime occurred."

What are some alternatives to using "had been brought"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "was transported", "was delivered", or "was introduced".

When is it appropriate to use "had been brought" instead of "was brought"?

"Had been brought" is used when you want to emphasize that the action of bringing happened before another action in the past. "Was brought" is used for a simple past action without needing to specify its relation to another past event.

What's the difference between "had been brought" and "has been brought"?

"Had been brought" refers to a past action completed before another past action, while "has been brought" refers to an action completed before the present moment. For example, "The issue had been brought up before the meeting started" vs. "The issue has been brought up for discussion today".

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

4.6/5

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Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: