had been committed

USAGE SUMMARY

"had been committed" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is the past perfect tense of the verb "to commit" and is used to describe an action that was completed in the past before another action or event in the past. Example: The crime had been committed long before the police arrived at the scene.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

No crime had been committed".

The Guardian - Opinion

Police later said no offence had been committed.

Independent

Indeed, countless crimes had been committed in the attempt.

Encyclopedia Britannica

No one alleged a crime had been committed.

The New York Times

Hilliard said he felt a fraud had been committed.

The Guardian

The crime had been committed a year earlier.

The Guardian - Opinion

Investigators didn't even know if a crime had been committed.

The New York Times - Magazine

None of this meant that a crime had been committed.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

The officer had already determined no crime had been committed.

Huffington Post

And at that point, no crime had been committed.

The Guardian - Opinion

Delict, in Roman law, an obligation to pay a penalty because a wrong had been committed.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been committed" to clearly indicate that an action was completed before another point in the past. This helps establish a clear timeline of events.

Common error

Avoid using "has been committed" when referring to an action completed before a specific point in the past. "Has been committed" implies the action is relevant to the present, while "had been committed" establishes a past-before-past relationship.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been committed" functions as the past perfect passive form of the verb "commit". It indicates that an action was completed at some point in the past before another action also in the past. Ludwig AI confirms the proper grammatical use across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

41%

Encyclopedias

11%

Science

9%

Less common in

Wiki

4%

Formal & Business

4%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been committed" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to describe an action completed before another point in the past. As confirmed by Ludwig, it functions as the past perfect passive voice. While suitable for various contexts, including news, encyclopedias, and scientific writing, it excels at establishing a clear sequence of events. When using this phrase, ensure you're emphasizing the past-before-past relationship. Consider alternatives like "was perpetrated" or "was carried out" for similar meanings. Ludwig's analysis underscores the phrase's reliability and versatility in conveying completed past actions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was perpetrated

Focuses on the act of carrying out a crime or wrongdoing.

was perpetrated

Highlights the execution or carrying out of a specific act, often negative.

was carried out

Emphasizes the execution or performance of an action.

was undertaken

Focuses on the action of starting or engaging in something.

was brought about

Focuses on the act of causing something to happen.

was enacted

Emphasizes the formal or official nature of the action.

had transpired

Indicates that an event or action has occurred or taken place.

was effected

Highlights the accomplishment or realization of something.

had come to pass

Indicates that an event has occurred, often unexpectedly or naturally.

was fulfilled

Highlights the completion of a promise, prophecy, or requirement.

FAQs

How to use "had been committed" in a sentence?

Use "had been committed" to describe an action that was completed before another action or time in the past. For example, "The crime "had been committed" before the police arrived".

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

You can use alternatives like "was perpetrated", "was carried out", or "was brought about" depending on the context.

What is the difference between "has been committed" and "had been committed"?

"Has been committed" indicates an action completed recently with present relevance, while "had been committed" indicates an action completed before a specific point in the past.

Is it correct to say "the crime was committed" instead of "the crime had been committed"?

Yes, "the crime was committed" is grammatically correct. However, "the crime "had been committed"" is more appropriate when you want to emphasize that the crime occurred before another event in the past.