had been donated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been donated" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something was given as a gift or contribution in the past, often in a context involving charitable donations or gifts. Example: "The books had been donated to the local library by a generous benefactor."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

All cadavers had been donated through a body donation program of our university and had been preserved using the injection of a formalin solution in the vessels.

BioMed Research International

Marquis said hot food had been donated to the camp, but those donations weren't regular -- or at times very healthy.  .

Los Angeles Times

The clothes they wore had been donated by community members.

The New York Times

By Wednesday afternoon, more than $75,000 had been donated.

The Washington Post

And by Friday morning, nearly $7,000 had been donated.

The Washington Post

He said the prizes had been donated by private individuals.

The New York Times

By the end, some $150,000 had been donated.

The Guardian

That amount had been donated by affected families, Bowring said.

The Guardian

The book had been donated in 1984 but never had been studied.

Princeton University

As for the Brobdingnagian bass, it had been donated to a friend.

The New Yorker

Montana and Backara had been donated several months earlier, by a facility in Ohio.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been donated", ensure the context clearly indicates who the donor and recipient are, and the purpose of the donation.

Common error

Avoid using "had been donated" when a simple past tense ("was donated") is sufficient. Use "had been donated" to emphasize that the donation occurred before another point in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been donated" functions as a past perfect passive construction. It indicates that an action (donation) was completed before a specific time in the past. Ludwig provides numerous examples showcasing its use across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

8%

Wiki

5%

Unknown

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had been donated" is a common and grammatically correct past perfect passive construction used to describe an action of donation completed before a specific time in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its usability and provides various examples across contexts like news, science, and formal writing. While alternatives like "were contributed" or "had been given" exist, the choice depends on the specific nuance desired. When using this phrase, ensure clarity regarding the donor, recipient, and purpose of the donation, avoiding overuse when a simple past tense is sufficient. "Had been donated" appropriately signifies a pre-existing state achieved through the act of donating.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been given

Uses "given" instead of "donated", offering a more general term for the act of providing something.

were contributed

Replaces "donated" with "contributed", emphasizing the act of giving as part of a larger effort.

were provided

Focuses on the act of supplying something necessary.

were supplied

Highlights the act of furnishing or providing something.

were gifted

Replaces "donated" with "gifted", highlighting the act of giving something as a present.

had been granted

Suggests a formal or official act of giving permission or resources.

had been presented

Emphasizes a formal or ceremonial act of giving.

had been transferred

Emphasizes the change of ownership or possession.

were bestowed

Suggests a formal or honorable conferral of something.

had been bequeathed

Implies something was given as an inheritance or legacy.

FAQs

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

Use "had been donated" to describe something that was given as a gift or contribution before a specific time in the past. For example, "The equipment "had been donated" before the project started".

What are some alternatives to "had been donated"?

You can use alternatives like "had been given", "were contributed", or "were gifted", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "was donated" instead of "had been donated"?

Yes, "was donated" is correct, especially when referring to a single action in the past. "Had been donated" is used when the donation happened before another event in the past. The choice depends on the context and the timeline you want to establish.

What is the difference between "had been donated" and "were donated"?

"Had been donated" indicates a past perfect passive construction, emphasizing that the donation occurred before a specific point in the past. "Were donated" is simple past passive, describing a donation action without needing a second past event for context. For example: "The books "were donated" last year". vs "The books "had been donated" before the library opened".