had been frequent

USAGE SUMMARY

"had been frequent" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to say that something happened often in the past but it does not happen anymore. For example: "The couple had been frequent visitors to the city until they moved away."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

18 human-written examples

There had been frequent, unsubstantiated, reports that the ship might have been hijacked.

The New York Times

There had been frequent tremors in the months before the big one.

The New York Times

She continued to go out into society, often with gay men, who had been frequent companions before she married.

The Guardian

By contrast, extroverts who had been frequent movers as children were less harmed, probably because they managed to strike up better social networks.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Residents of the Bronx housing complex said yesterday that the twins and their parents had been frequent visitors, often staying in the 20th-floor apartment on weekends.

The New York Times

Before the recent security gains, the southern pipelines had been frequent targets of insurgents, smugglers and militias, but few strikes had been recorded in the past year.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

39 human-written examples

Both had been frequented by squatters, and Brancatelli had passed by to see if they had been finally boarded up.

The New York Times - Magazine

Asymmetric shocks have been frequent.

The Economist

Security scares have been frequent in Kabul.

The Economist

The assaults have been frequent.

The New York Times

Protests have been frequent since Mr. Hariri's assassination.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been frequent" to describe patterns or habits that existed over a period of time in the past, but are no longer occurring. For example, "Visits had been frequent before the pandemic."

Common error

Avoid using "had been frequent" when describing events that are still happening now. Use "have been frequent" instead to refer to present occurrences. For instance, say "Visits have been frequent this year" instead of "Visits had been frequent this year" if the visits are still ongoing.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been frequent" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect tense, indicating a state of frequent occurrence prior to a specific point in the past. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, its usage is grammatically sound.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

16%

Wiki

11%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

2%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been frequent" is a grammatically correct and commonly used past perfect construction that describes something that occurred often before a specific time in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, its usage is appropriate in various contexts. It is most frequently found in News & Media, Science, and Wiki sources, indicating its versatility across different registers. To ensure correct usage, remember to establish a clear past timeframe and differentiate it from the present perfect "have been frequent". Alternatives like "had occurred often" or "had happened regularly" can be used to add variety to your writing. Top sources like The New York Times and The Guardian demonstrate its usage in authoritative contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had occurred often

Replaces "frequent" with "often", emphasizing the repeated occurrence of events.

had happened regularly

Substitutes "frequent" with "regularly", focusing on the consistent and predictable nature of the occurrences.

had been a common occurrence

Rephrases to highlight that something was a typical or usual event.

had been a recurring event

Emphasizes the repetitive nature of the event, highlighting that it happened multiple times.

had often taken place

Focuses on the action of something taking place, with "often" indicating frequency.

had been commonplace

Indicates that something was ordinary and not unusual.

had transpired repeatedly

Uses a more formal tone, with "repeatedly" signifying multiple instances.

had manifested frequently

Implies that something appeared or became evident on numerous occasions.

had been repeatedly observed

Suggests that something was noticed or seen multiple times.

had shown up often

An informal alternative, indicating something appeared or happened many times.

FAQs

How do I properly use "had been frequent" in a sentence?

"Had been frequent" is used to describe something that occurred often in the past before another point in the past. For example: "Before the new regulations, delays "had been frequent"."

What are some alternatives to "had been frequent"?

You can use alternatives like "had occurred often", "had happened regularly", or "had been commonplace" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "have been frequent" instead of "had been frequent"?

The choice between "have been frequent" and "had been frequent" depends on the timeframe. Use "have been frequent" for events ongoing up to the present. Use "had been frequent" for events that occurred frequently in the past before another past event.

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

"Were frequent" describes something that was often the case in the past. "Had been frequent" also describes something that was often the case in the past, but before another point in the past. The latter emphasizes the sequence of past events.