had been few

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been few" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that the number of something was limited or small in the past. Example: "There had been few opportunities for advancement in the company before the new management took over."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Both departments said there had been few grievances.

The New York Times

They said there had been few staff meetings.

The New York Times

He said there had been "few adverse consequences".

The New York Times

But officials said that, over all, there had been few such problems.

The New York Times

Last week, it won the sport's biggest prizes, but medals in individual events had been few.

The New York Times - Sports

He'd had a good chance early on but genuine opportunities had been few.

The Guardian - Sport

But in 1996, five years after his return, there had been few signs of progress.

The Guardian - Sport

In Sicily there had been few opportunities for an aspiring cyclist.

The Guardian - Sport

Powell admitted there had been few opportunities to canvas parliamentary opinion.

The Guardian

In Wasit Province, a largely rural Shiite governorate southeast of Baghdad, there had been few bombings in recent years.

The New York Times

Until recently, there had been few solid answers — just guesses and hunches, marketing hype and extrapolations from small pilot studies.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been few", ensure that the context clearly establishes the timeframe you are referring to. This helps avoid ambiguity and ensures clarity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "had been few" when referring to a present situation. Use "are few" or "there are few" instead when describing a current state.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been few" functions as a determiner phrase within a clause, modifying a noun to indicate a small quantity or number. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and frequent use.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Science

13%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been few" is a grammatically sound and frequently employed expression used to indicate a limited quantity or number in the past. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its usage is correct and versatile, appearing in various contexts, predominantly in News & Media, but also in Science and Formal & Business writing. While suitable for neutral register, it's crucial to use it accurately, avoiding present tense misapplications and considering alternatives like "were scarce" or "were limited" to fine-tune the message's nuance. By understanding its function, purpose and typical usage patterns, writers can effectively incorporate "had been few" into their vocabulary while avoiding common pitfalls.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

were not many

Simple rephrasing using a negative construction.

were limited

Substitutes "few" with "limited", focusing on restriction.

were scarce

Replaces "few" with "scarce", emphasizing rarity.

had been minimal

Emphasizes the extremely low quantity or degree.

were infrequent

Focuses on the lack of frequency rather than quantity.

had been a small number

Rephrases using "small number" to indicate a limited quantity.

were negligible

Indicates that the quantity was so small as to be insignificant.

had been a handful

Uses "handful" to suggest a very small quantity.

had been a shortage

Suggests a deficiency or lack of something necessary.

had been a paucity

Replaces "few" with the more formal "paucity", indicating a scarcity or lack.

FAQs

How can I use "had been few" in a sentence?

Use "had been few" to indicate that there was a limited number of something in the past. For example, "There "had been few" opportunities for advancement before the restructuring".

What's a more formal alternative to "had been few"?

For a more formal tone, consider using "had been a paucity" or "had been limited" to express the same idea with greater sophistication.

Is it ever correct to say "there are been few"?

No, "there are been few" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrasing is "there have been few" or "there were few", depending on the intended tense.

What's the difference between "there were few" and "there had been few"?

"There were few" describes a limited quantity in the past. "There "had been few"" indicates a limited quantity prior to a specific point in the past, often emphasizing a change or a reason for a current situation.