had been cooperating

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been cooperating" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an ongoing action of cooperation that occurred in the past before another event. Example: "The two companies had been cooperating on the project for several months before they decided to merge."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Mr. Ortiz said they had been cooperating with investigators.

The New York Times

The authorities said Gerber had been cooperating with the inquiry.

The New York Times

In statements, both Verizon and I.B.M. said they had been cooperating with the authorities.

The New York Times

Mark Corallo, a spokesman for Xe Services, said that the company had been cooperating.

The New York Times

A Symbol spokeswoman, Nancy Tully, said the company had been cooperating with the S.E.C. since February.

The New York Times

The companies said they were disappointed with the charges and had been cooperating.

The New York Times

The company said it had been cooperating with the S.E.C. and other regulators.

The New York Times

TNT said the allegations dated back to 2010 and it had been cooperating with French investigators.

The Guardian

Prosecutors said Mr. Jackson had been cooperating with a federal investigation of the congressman.

The New York Times

It said it had been cooperating with investigators for more than three years and would continue to do so.

The New York Times

A Delta spokeswoman, Chris Kelly, said the airline had been cooperating with the investigation for several months.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been cooperating", ensure that the context clearly indicates the timeframe and the entity with whom the cooperation occurred. For instance, "The witness had been cooperating with the police for several weeks prior to the trial."

Common error

Avoid assuming the cooperation implies agreement or endorsement. "The suspect had been cooperating with the investigation, but that doesn't necessarily mean he admitted guilt."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been cooperating" functions as a past perfect progressive verb phrase. It indicates an action of cooperating that was ongoing for a period of time before another point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Formal & Business

1%

Encyclopedias

1%

Less common in

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had been cooperating" is a grammatically sound and frequently used verb phrase that indicates an ongoing action of cooperation in the past, before another specified time. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is appropriate for general use. The phrase is commonly found in news and media contexts to describe collaboration in investigations, projects, or other activities. While interchangeable with alternatives like "had been collaborating" or "had been assisting", it is important to consider the precise nuance needed for the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been collaborating

This alternative emphasizes a joint effort or teamwork.

had been assisting

This alternative highlights the act of providing help or support.

had been working together

This alternative focuses on the joint action of working towards a common goal.

had cooperated

This alternative uses the past perfect tense, implying the cooperation concluded before a certain point.

had jointly worked

This suggests a shared effort on a task.

were in cooperation

This alternative changes the structure to a state of being.

had been aiding

This emphasizes a supportive role.

had shown compliance

This alternative suggests adherence to rules or requests.

had been compliant

This alternative describes the subject as being in a state of compliance.

had participated with

This conveys involvement or taking part in something together.

FAQs

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

You can use "had been cooperating" to describe an ongoing action of cooperation that occurred in the past before another event. For example, "The company "had been cooperating" with investigators before the charges were filed."

What are some alternatives to "had been cooperating"?

You can use alternatives like "had been collaborating", "had been assisting", or "had been working together" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "had been cooperate" instead of "had been cooperating"?

No, "had been cooperate" is grammatically incorrect. The correct form is ""had been cooperating"", which uses the present participle form of the verb to indicate continuous action in the past.

What's the difference between "had been cooperating" and "cooperated"?

"Had been cooperating" suggests a continuous action over a period of time in the past, while "cooperated" implies a completed action at a specific point in the past. For example, "They "had been cooperating" for months" vs "They cooperated on the project last year".