had been deteriorated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been deteriorated" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It is the past perfect passive form of the verb "to deteriorate", meaning that something had been made worse or had declined in quality or condition before a certain point in the past. Example: The old building, which had been deteriorated by years of neglect, finally collapsed last night during the storm.

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Such changes in the chemical shift of adsorbed molecules were intimately related to the weaker adsorption forces acting on the adsorbed molecules, indicating that the electrode surface had been deteriorated by the load test at higher voltages.

Electrochimica Acta

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

His health had been deteriorating for months.

The Guardian

Before that, her condition had been deteriorating.

The New York Times

He also said Bergdahl's health had been deteriorating and "we were deeply concerned about it".

Independent

The gardens had been deteriorating over a period of 50 years.

The New Yorker

Big Life admit that relations with the label had been deteriorating for some time.

The Guardian - Music

Ghassan Khattib, a political analyst, said: "His ratings had been deteriorating rapidly.

The New York Times

But in Detroit, Ross's relationship with his players had been deteriorating badly.

The New York Times - Sports

The relationship between the Foreign Office minister (who attended cabinet) and the top of her Conservative Party had been deteriorating for years.

The Economist

Neighbors and acquaintances said Mr. Tarloff had been deteriorating before their eyes for the last decade or so.

The New York Times

THE wood-shingled cottage, tucked behind businesses across the road from a major suburban mall, had been deteriorating for years.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been deteriorated" to emphasize that the deterioration occurred over a period of time before a specific point in the past. This is particularly useful when explaining the current state as a consequence of past neglect or damage.

Common error

Avoid using "deteriorated" alone when you want to stress that the deterioration happened continuously before a certain past event. "Deteriorated" is simple past, while "had been deteriorated" emphasizes a past perfect passive state.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been deteriorated" functions as the past perfect passive voice, indicating that something experienced a decline in quality or condition over time prior to a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

33%

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been deteriorated" is a grammatically correct past perfect passive construction used to describe a state of decline resulting from prior actions or circumstances. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's more formal than informal, with limited examples suggesting it is relatively rare. While correct, it's crucial to consider whether the active voice might be clearer and more direct. Related alternatives, such as "had degraded" or "had declined", offer subtle variations in meaning that may be more suitable depending on context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had degraded

Focuses on the lowering of quality or condition.

had declined

Emphasizes a downward trend in quality or quantity.

had worsened

Highlights the process of becoming worse.

had decayed

Suggests a slow process of rotting or decomposition.

had fallen into disrepair

Specifies a state of neglect and damage.

had become damaged

Indicates that something experienced harm or injury.

had broken down

Implies a failure of function or structure.

had suffered damage

Highlights the experience of undergoing harm.

had crumbled

Suggests a process of breaking apart into small fragments.

had disintegrated

Focuses on a complete breakdown into smaller parts.

FAQs

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

Use "had been deteriorated" to describe something that experienced a decline in condition or quality over time before a specific point in the past. For example: "The equipment "had been deteriorated" due to lack of maintenance."

What are some alternatives to "had been deteriorated"?

Alternatives include "had degraded", "had worsened", or "had fallen into disrepair", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to use "had been deteriorated" or "had deteriorated"?

"Had been deteriorated" is passive voice, indicating something was acted upon to cause the decline. "Had deteriorated" is active, indicating something declined on its own. Choose based on whether you want to emphasize the cause of the deterioration.

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

"Had been deteriorated" describes a state resulting from deterioration completed before a past point, while "was deteriorated" (though less common) might describe a state at a specific moment in the past. The former emphasizes a longer period of decline.