had been concerned

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been concerned" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a past state of worry or anxiety about something that occurred before another past event. Example: "She had been concerned about the project's progress before the deadline was extended."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Barzani had been concerned about ISIS for some time.

The New Yorker

The team had been concerned about this, too.

The New Yorker

Surely he had been concerned by rumours of Graham's notoriety?

The Guardian - Sport

Her mother-in-law had been concerned, though.

The New York Times - Magazine

Arizona and Seattle had been concerned realignment would ruin rivalries.

The New York Times - Sports

Even before the hurricane struck, Mr. Bloomberg had been concerned about climate change.

The New York Times

Michelle Lyons, a department spokeswoman, said the agency had been concerned about the drug's availability.

The New York Times

She and her sisters-in-law had been concerned that I was unmarried and childless.

The New Yorker

Among other things, she had been concerned about missing cheerleading practice.

The New York Times

"We had been concerned that it could get reported in the wrong way," she said.

The New Yorker

He told La Repubblica that he had been concerned, too, for the safety of family members.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been concerned" to express worries or anxieties that existed before a specific incident or revelation. This accurately portrays the sequence of events and the subject's emotional state.

Common error

Avoid using "had been concerned" to describe a present or future state. This phrase strictly refers to a past condition of worry. Instead of saying "I had been concerned about the upcoming meeting", use "I am concerned" or "I was concerned, but now..." to align with the correct timeline.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been concerned" functions as a past perfect passive construction, indicating a state of worry or anxiety experienced before a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI examples show its usage across varied contexts, from personal anxieties to institutional worries.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Formal & Business

18%

Science

12%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Encyclopedias

5%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been concerned" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed phrase used to denote a past state of worry or anxiety preceding another event. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and widespread use across varied sources, most notably in News & Media and Formal & Business contexts. When using the phrase, ensure clarity in the timeline, indicating a past concern before another past event. Alternatives include "had worried" and "had been anxious", which offer similar connotations. Avoid using "had been concerned" to describe present or future states, and correctly sequence events to avoid misrepresentation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had worried

Replaces "concerned" with a more common synonym, maintaining the past perfect tense.

had been anxious

Substitutes "concerned" with "anxious", emphasizing a state of unease or nervousness.

had felt apprehensive

Replaces "concerned" with "apprehensive", suggesting a feeling of worry about something that might happen.

had had misgivings

Uses "had had misgivings" to indicate doubts or worries about a past action or decision.

had been uneasy

Replaces "concerned" with "uneasy", highlighting a feeling of discomfort or anxiety.

had been troubled

Substitutes "concerned" with "troubled", indicating a state of worry or distress.

had been worried sick

Adds intensity to the concern, emphasizing a high level of worry.

had been fearful

Replaces "concerned" with "fearful", suggesting a state of fear or apprehension.

had been skeptical

Indicates a state of doubt or disbelief, which can stem from concern.

had been solicitous

Substitutes "concerned" with "solicitous", highlighting a caring or attentive concern.

FAQs

How do I properly use "had been concerned" in a sentence?

Use "had been concerned" to describe a past worry or anxiety that existed before another event in the past. For example, "He had been concerned about the project's deadline before the extension was granted."

What are some alternatives to "had been concerned"?

You can use alternatives like "had worried", "had been anxious", or "had felt apprehensive" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "had been concerning" grammatically correct, and how does it differ from "had been concerned"?

"Had been concerning" is grammatically correct but has a different meaning. It describes something that was causing concern over a period, while "had been concerned" describes someone who felt worry. For instance, "The news had been concerning everyone" versus "Everyone had been concerned about the news".

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

"Was concerned" generally refers to a concern at a specific point in the past, whereas "had been concerned" refers to a concern that existed over a period leading up to a specific point in the past. For example, "He was concerned when he heard the news" versus "He had been concerned about her health before she received treatment."