had been driven

USAGE SUMMARY

"had been driven" is correct and usable in written English.
You would use it to refer to something that happened in the past before something else happened in the past. For example, "The car had been driven across town before it broke down."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

M had been driven mad by grief.

The Guardian - Opinion

The Militant Trotskyites had been driven out.

The Guardian - Opinion

Prices had been driven up mainly by new Japanese investors.

The New Yorker

It reported 13 victims had been driven to suicide.

The New York Times

Henry had been driven in from the farm that morning.

The New Yorker

Anger that Lehman had been driven to the ground.

Independent

Muslim terrorists had been driven by such beliefs before.

The New Yorker

"She had been driven by jealousy," he said.

The Guardian

A mobile post office had been driven in.

The New York Times

By 1980 nearly a million people had been driven out.

The New York Times

But a wedge had been driven between them.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been driven" to clearly establish a sequence of past events where one action occurred before another. This helps create a clear timeline for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "had been driven" when the context only requires a simple past tense ("was driven"). Overusing the past perfect can make your writing sound awkward or overly formal.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been driven" functions as the past perfect passive voice. It indicates that an action was completed before another point in the past, with the subject receiving the action. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Wiki

17%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been driven" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase that serves to indicate an action completed before another point in the past. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, it establishes a clear sequence of events, making it particularly useful in news, media, and academic writing. Its neutral register allows for versatile application, and understanding its function helps avoid common errors like incorrect tense sequencing. The most authoritative sources using this phrase include The New York Times and The Guardian, further validating its widespread acceptance and proper usage.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was driven

Simple past passive, indicating a single action in the past.

was propelled

Replaces "driven" with a synonym, focusing on the action of being moved forward.

had been forced

Highlights the element of compulsion or necessity in the action.

was being driven

Past continuous passive, indicating an ongoing action in the past.

has been driven

Present perfect passive, focusing on the result of a past action that continues to the present.

is driven

Present simple passive, indicating a general or habitual action.

had been guided

Implies direction or influence rather than force.

was steered

Focuses on the act of controlling the direction of movement.

had been motivated

Shifts the focus to the underlying reason or cause for the action.

were driven

Past passive plural, indicating action upon multiple subjects.

FAQs

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

"Had been driven" indicates an action completed in the past before another past action. For example: "The suspect "had been driven" to the airport before the police arrived".

What are some alternatives to "had been driven"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "was driven", "was propelled", or "had been forced".

When should I use "had been driven" instead of "was driven"?

Use "had been driven" when you need to show that the action happened before another event in the past. "Was driven" simply describes an action that occurred in the past.

What's the difference between "had been driven" and "has been driven"?

"Had been driven" refers to a past action completed before another past action, while "has been driven" connects a past action to the present. For example, "The company has been driven to bankruptcy by poor management" implies the company is currently bankrupt.