had been doing

USAGE SUMMARY

"had been doing" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It can be used to indicate a continuing action that has been occurring over a period of time. For example: "I had been doing the dishes for an hour when my mom returned home."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He had been doing the crossword puzzle.

The New Yorker

Clearly, he had been doing something wrong.

The New Yorker

It had been doing my head in.

The Guardian

They had been doing this all night.

The Guardian - Sport

Until recently, Chevron had been doing well.

The New York Times

It had been doing so for years.

The New Yorker

A. I had been doing diabetes research.

The New York Times - Health

Brigg asked Watt what he had been doing.

The New York Times - Sports

She had been doing this kind of work for years.

The New York Times - Magazine

Suddenly, I had to do everything she had been doing.

The New York Times

Guess what Charlie's father, Martin, had been doing?

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been doing" to describe actions that started in the past, continued for a period, and were completed or interrupted before another point in the past. For example, "I had been doing yoga for a year before I got injured."

Common error

Avoid using "had been doing" when a simple past tense is more appropriate. For example, instead of "I had been doing my homework and then I watched TV", use "I did my homework and then I watched TV" if the focus is on the sequence of completed actions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been doing" serves as a past perfect progressive verb form. It indicates an action that began in the past, continued for a duration, and was completed or interrupted before another point in the past. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's a common and grammatically sound phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been doing" is a grammatically sound and very common verb phrase used to describe actions that were ongoing in the past before another event occurred. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and widespread usability. It's suitable for various contexts, as evidenced by its frequent appearance in news and media, but also applicable in scientific and formal business settings. To use it effectively, remember that it refers to an action continuing over time, and avoid using it when a simple past tense is more fitting.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was doing

This alternative uses the past continuous tense, focusing on the ongoing nature of the action at a specific point in the past.

had engaged in

This alternative emphasizes participation or involvement in a particular activity or process.

had undertaken

This alternative suggests a more formal or deliberate approach to starting and carrying out an activity.

had been occupied with

This alternative highlights the state of being busy or engaged with something over a period of time.

had performed

This alternative implies the execution or completion of a task or activity, often with a focus on skill or ability.

had worked on

This alternative focuses on the effort and activity invested in a particular task or project.

had pursued

This alternative suggests following a particular course of action or engaging in an activity with a specific goal in mind.

had practiced

This alternative refers to regular engagement in an activity, typically to improve skill or proficiency.

had devoted time to

This alternative emphasizes the investment of time and effort into a specific activity or purpose.

had spent time on

This alternative indicates the allocation of time to a particular activity, often implying a leisurely or non-urgent approach.

FAQs

How do I use "had been doing" in a sentence?

Use "had been doing" to describe a continuous action that started and continued for some time before another point in the past. For example, "She "had been working" on the project for months before it was finally approved."

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

"Had been doing" indicates an action that continued over a period of time before another event in the past, while "was doing" simply describes an action in progress at a specific time in the past. For example, "I "was doing" the dishes when the phone rang" vs. "I "had been doing" the dishes for an hour when my friend arrived."

Can I use "had been doing" to describe future events?

No, "had been doing" is used exclusively for past actions. To describe future continuous actions, use "will be doing" or "will have been doing" for actions continuing up to a point in the future.

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

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like ""was doing"", "had engaged in", or "had undertaken" to convey a similar meaning with slight variations.