had been exhibited

USAGE SUMMARY

"had been exhibited" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is the past perfect passive form of the verb "exhibit," which means to display or show something to the public. You can use "had been exhibited" when you want to emphasize that something was displayed or shown in the past, before another past event. For example: "By the time I arrived at the museum, the painting had already been exhibited for two weeks." In this sentence, the past perfect passive form "had been exhibited" is used to show that the painting was displayed before the speaker's arrival at the museum. It emphasizes that the action of exhibiting took place in the past. Another example: "The new collection had been exhibited in galleries all over the world before it finally arrived at our museum." In this sentence, "had been exhibited" is used to show that the new collection was shown in multiple locations before it arrived at the speaker's museum. It emphasizes that the action of exhibiting took place before the arrival of the collection at the speaker's museum.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

45 human-written examples

The stele had been in the BM's collection for almost 90 years (and had been exhibited, without complaint, at a Tokyo exhibition in 2005 alongside loans from the Topkapi).

The Economist

Shortly after this nastily pretty painting had been exhibited to acclaim at the National Academy of Design's Annual Exhibition in New York, Bierstadt changed the title from "Mountain Lake," hoping to flatter his would-be sponsor.

The New York Times

Its visit to Perth saw a reunion with GWR 4073 Class Pendennis Castle, which had been exhibited alongside Flying Scotsman at the 1924 British Empire Exhibition.

Wikipedia

It was the first time they had been exhibited in public.

The Washington Post

It was the first time that the project had been exhibited in New York.

The New Yorker

All this work had been exhibited in Britain within the past year or so.

The Guardian - Arts

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

15 human-written examples

"He had been exhibiting some violent behavior," Major Kelly said.

The New York Times

The club had been exhibiting at the Yale School of Fine Arts and then, for 33 years, at the New Haven Free Public Library.

The New York Times

I had been exhibiting some award-winning behaviors, frankly.

Huffington Post

Only a few have been exhibited before.

The New York Times - Arts

His work has been exhibited throughout the world.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been exhibited" to emphasize that an item or work was on display before a specific point in the past. This is particularly useful when providing historical context or tracing the journey of an object.

Common error

Avoid using "had been exhibited" when you simply mean something is currently on display. Use "is exhibited" or "has been exhibited" if the exhibition is relevant to the present.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been exhibited" functions as the past perfect passive voice of the verb "exhibit". This form is used to indicate that an action (the exhibiting) was completed before another point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

47%

Academia

26%

Wiki

9%

Less common in

Science

8%

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been exhibited" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase indicating that something was displayed before a specific time in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides numerous examples spanning News & Media, Academia, and Wiki sources. It's particularly useful for providing historical context and tracing the journey of objects, artworks, or ideas. When employing the phrase, ensure that it aligns with past perfect tense requirements, reserving it for situations where an action occurred before another point in the past. Related alternatives like "had been displayed" or "had been showcased" can add nuance to your writing, while avoiding the simple past "was exhibited" ensures that the proper sequence of events is emphasized.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been displayed

Replaces "exhibited" with "displayed", focusing on the act of showing something.

had been showcased

Substitutes "exhibited" with "showcased", highlighting the presentation of something in an attractive or favorable way.

had been presented

Uses "presented" instead of "exhibited", indicating a more formal introduction or offering to the public.

had been on display

Rephrases the verb phrase to focus on the state of being displayed.

had been unveiled

Implies a formal or ceremonial revealing of something previously hidden.

had been put on show

An idiomatic alternative emphasizing the act of displaying something.

had been revealed

Suggests that something was made known or visible for the first time.

had been featured

Highlights the prominence of something within an exhibition or display.

had been exposed

Implies the uncovering or bringing to light of something, potentially with a negative connotation.

had been opened to the public

Emphasizes the accessibility of the exhibition to the general audience.

FAQs

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

The phrase "had been exhibited" indicates that something was displayed before a specific time in the past. For example, "The painting "had been exhibited" in several museums before it was sold at auction."

What phrases are similar to "had been exhibited"?

Similar phrases include "had been displayed", "had been showcased", or "had been presented". The best choice depends on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

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

While "was exhibited" is grammatically correct, it doesn't emphasize the sequence of events as clearly as "had been exhibited". Use "had been exhibited" when you want to highlight that the exhibition occurred before another past event.

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

"Has been exhibited" implies the exhibition is relevant to the present, while "had been exhibited" refers to a completed action in the past, before another point in the past. For instance, "The artist's work "has been exhibited" internationally" versus "The artist's work "had been exhibited" before the artist's death".