had been built

USAGE SUMMARY

"had been built" is a valid structure and is often used in written English.
It is usually used in past perfect tense when referring to an event that had occurred before the time being discussed. For example: By the time they reached the village, the church had been built.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

IIIs had been built.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Nothing like it had been built before.

The New Yorker

Roads and bridges had been built.

The New York Times

The boat had been built in 1954.

Independent

But an infrastructure had been built.

The New York Times

By 1965, six hundred had been built.

The New Yorker

My life had been built on reading everything in sight.

The New Yorker

Nothing of its kind had been built before.

The Economist

Here, the five projects I most wish had been built.

The New York Times

And people moved into what had been built for them.

The New Yorker

Just a handful of buildings had been built.

The New York Times - Arts

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been built" to clearly establish that the construction occurred before a specific point in the past. This is crucial for maintaining a clear chronological sequence in your narrative.

Common error

Avoid using "had been built" when simple past tense ("was built") is sufficient. "Had been built" is specifically for situations where you need to emphasize that the construction happened before another past action.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been built" functions as a past perfect passive construction. This grammatical form indicates that an action (building) was completed before a specific point in the past. The examples provided by Ludwig, such as "Roads and bridges had been built", illustrate this.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

25%

Encyclopedias

15%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been built" is a past perfect passive construction used to indicate that something was constructed or created before a specific point in the past. As Ludwig AI points out, it is grammatically correct and very common, appearing frequently in news media, encyclopedias, and wikis. While it can be used in formal and scientific contexts, it is versatile enough for informal use as well. When using this phrase, ensure that the past perfect tense is appropriate to maintain a clear chronological order and provide context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was completed

Emphasizes the finished state of a project or structure.

was finalized

Highlights the conclusion or completion of a process, leading to a finished product.

was constructed

Focuses on the act of building or assembling something.

was erected

Emphasizes the vertical construction or raising of a structure.

was created

Highlights the act of bringing something into existence.

was established

Indicates the founding or setting up of something, often an organization or system.

was fabricated

Suggests that something was manufactured or put together from various parts.

was assembled

Implies that something was put together from different components.

was developed

Focuses on the gradual growth or advancement of something.

was formed

Indicates the shaping or molding of something into a particular form.

FAQs

How is "had been built" used in a sentence?

"Had been built" indicates an action completed before a specific time in the past. For example, "By the time the storm arrived, the shelter "had been built"."

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

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives such as "was constructed", "was erected", or "was completed". Each alternative emphasizes a slightly different aspect of the construction.

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

"Was built" describes a simple past action, while "had been built" indicates a past action completed before another past action. Using "had been built" clarifies the sequence of events.

Is it ever incorrect to use "had been built"?

Yes, it is incorrect when the sequence of past actions is not relevant. In such cases, using the simple past tense "was built" is more appropriate. If there is no specific comparison to another event in the past, using "was built" is better.