had been drops

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been drops" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It may be intended to describe a past state involving drops, but it lacks context and clarity. Example: "The rain had been drops falling steadily throughout the night."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

When the sun strikes those windows, the frost melts instantly and the melt water evaporates almost as quickly, leaving behind dust prints where there had been drops.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Psychological testing had been dropped too.

The New York Times - Books

If Oklahoma had been dropped or had L.S.U.

The New York Times - Sports

The case had been dropped without an indictment.

The New Yorker

Lamb shanks and short ribs had been dropped.

The New Yorker

The bomb had been dropped from a helicopter.

The New York Times

The lime trees had been dropping their nectar overnight".

The New York Times - Books

One young man had been dropped off by his dad.

Independent

Discovery declined to say whether the lawsuit had been dropped.

The New York Times - Arts

The tunnel ceiling had been dropping, obliging me to crouch.

The New Yorker

It felt as if a guillotine had been dropped.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing liquids forming or appearing, use more descriptive verbs like "dripping", "falling", or "condensing" instead of the grammatically questionable "had been drops".

Common error

Do not use "had been drops" as it is not a standard or grammatically sound way to describe the past presence of liquid drops. Opt for clearer and more conventional expressions like "had been dripping" or "had formed into drops".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been drops" functions as a noun phrase that is intended to describe the past existence or state of liquid drops. However, Ludwig AI identifies this phrase as grammatically incorrect, suggesting it does not conform to standard English grammar rules.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Social Media

0%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "had been drops" appears in some contexts, notably within news and media, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically incorrect. Its intended purpose is to describe a past state involving liquid drops, but more precise and conventional alternatives such as "had been dripping" or "had been falling" are recommended for clearer communication. It's best to avoid this phrase in formal writing due to its grammatical issues.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been dripping

Emphasizes the continuous action of liquid falling in drops.

had been falling

Focuses on the action of falling, applicable to any substance including rain or tears.

had consisted of drops

Indicates that something was composed of drops, suitable for describing a liquid mixture.

had formed into drops

Describes the process of liquid coalescing into drops.

had left drops

Implies that drops were left behind after an event.

had condensed into drops

Focuses on the transformation of vapor into liquid drops.

had trickled down

Describes liquid moving slowly downwards.

had been reduced to drops

Indicates that something has been transformed or diminished into drops.

had evaporated from drops

Focuses on the water leaving behind droplets.

had turned into drops

Describes a substance changing into drops

FAQs

How can I rephrase the sentence with "had been drops" to be grammatically correct?

Instead of "had been drops", you can use phrases like "had been dripping", "had been falling", or "had formed into drops" to clearly describe the liquid's action.

Is "had been drops" grammatically correct?

No, "had been drops" is not grammatically correct. The correct phrasing would involve a verb that describes the action of the drops, such as "had been falling" or "had been dripping".

What's the difference between "had been drops" and "had been dripping"?

"Had been drops" is not grammatically sound, whereas "had been dripping" is a grammatically correct continuous tense verb phrase describing the action of liquid falling in drops over a period. It's a more precise and understandable way to express the same idea.

What are some alternative ways to describe where drops were present in the past?

You could say "had left drops", "had consisted of drops", or "had condensed into drops" depending on the context you are describing. These phrases offer clearer and more accurate descriptions.