had been finished

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been finished" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that an action was completed before another action in the past. Example: "By the time the meeting started, the report had been finished and was ready for presentation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Measurement of the vibrations when the construction had been finished allowed to compare the vibration prognosis to vibrations actually measured in the finished structure.

Advances in Engineering Software

Editing had been finished a few weeks before his death.

The Guardian

"She saw the house actually, once it had been finished.

The New York Times - Magazine

The corporation said other disciplinary action could be taken after the investigation had been finished.

The New York Times

"But by the time the school had been finished, there was an alternative".

The New York Times

The set was made of teak, and had been finished with tung oil.

The New Yorker

And some of the music had been finished just days before.

The New York Times - Arts

FUS iPSC lines were genotyped after all other characterization had been finished.

Nature

All classes had been finished for the year by Tuesday and students were studying for finals.

The New York Times

By mid-September, the audit had been finished: Ghani was judged the winner.

The New Yorker

If only it had been finished years ago, and if only Osama bin Laden had seen a photograph of it….

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been finished" to clearly indicate that an action was completed before another action in the past, establishing a sequence of events.

Common error

Avoid using "had been finished" when the context only requires a simple past tense, such as "was finished". Overusing the past perfect can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been finished" functions as the past perfect passive form of the verb 'finish'. It indicates that an action of finishing was completed before another point in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a grammatically correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Science

24%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Academia

6%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been finished" is a grammatically sound and widely used past perfect passive construction. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and suitable for most contexts. It serves to indicate the completion of an action before a specific point in the past. While frequently appearing in "News & Media", "Science", and "Wiki" sources, its neutral register makes it versatile for both formal and informal communication. Remember to use it when you want to emphasize the sequence of past events, ensuring clarity in your writing. When other contexts are more appropriate, you might consider synonyms like "had been completed" or "was finished".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been completed

Focuses on the action of completing something; more formal.

was finished

Simpler, more direct way of expressing completion.

had concluded

Emphasizes the termination or ending of something.

had drawn to a close

Suggests a gradual ending or conclusion.

had wrapped up

Informal way to say something had been completed.

had been finalized

Highlights the definitive and conclusive nature of completion.

had come to an end

Focuses on the ending of a process or event.

had terminated

Formal and emphasizes the ending of a formal agreement or process.

had ceased

Highlights that something has stopped or discontinued.

had been brought to fruition

Suggests that something has reached a successful completion.

FAQs

How to use "had been finished" in a sentence?

Use "had been finished" to indicate that something was completed before another action in the past. For example, "By the time the guests arrived, dinner "had been finished"."

What can I say instead of "had been finished"?

You can use alternatives like "had been completed", "was finished", or "had concluded" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "had been finished" and "was finished"?

"Had been finished" indicates an action completed before another past action, while "was finished" simply indicates completion in the past. Use "had been finished" to show sequence. For example, "The project was finished yesterday" vs. "The project "had been finished" before the deadline".

Which is correct, "had been finished" or "has been finished"?

"Had been finished" is used for past perfect tense, indicating completion before another past action. "Has been finished" is used for present perfect tense, indicating completion with relevance to the present. Choose the tense based on the context and timeframe.