had been given

USAGE SUMMARY

"had been given" is a perfectly grammatical phrase in written English.
It is used in the past perfect tense to describe an action that happened before another action in the past. For example, "John had been given the assignment weeks before he finally started working on it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I had been given a do-over.

The New Yorker

They had been given to her….

The New Yorker

He said they had been given summonses.

The New York Times

He had been given 12 ODIs.

The Guardian - Sport

A grill he had been given.

The Washington Post

But early warnings had been given.

The Guardian

Ninety had been given life, or less.

The Guardian

Our seats, however, had been given away.

The New York Times - Travel

She had been given days to live.

The New York Times

He had been given the inside track.

The Guardian

He had been given a wrong number.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been given", ensure the context clearly indicates the past perfect tense, specifying that the giving action occurred before another event in the past. For example, "She "had been given" the award before the ceremony started."

Common error

Avoid using "had been given" when the simple past tense is more appropriate. For instance, instead of "He "had been given" a gift yesterday", use "He was given a gift yesterday" when there's no need to establish a sequence of past events.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been given" functions as the past perfect passive voice of the verb "give". It is used to indicate that someone or something was the recipient of an action before another action took place in the past, as Ludwig confirms.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been given" is a grammatically sound phrase used to describe a past action of receiving something before another event in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it functions as the past perfect passive voice, commonly found in news, science, and formal business contexts. While versatile, it's crucial to use it accurately to maintain clarity in writing and avoid tense errors. Related phrases such as "had received" and "had been granted" offer similar meanings with subtle differences in nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had received

Focuses more on the act of receiving rather than the act of giving.

had been granted

Implies a more formal or official conferral.

had been awarded

Suggests recognition or merit in the giving.

had obtained

Emphasizes effort or process in acquiring something.

had been presented with

Highlights the act of presenting or offering.

had been provided with

Stresses the act of furnishing or supplying.

had been entrusted with

Implies responsibility and trust in the giving.

had come into possession of

A more formal and indirect way of saying something was received.

had been bequeathed

Specifically refers to something given as an inheritance.

had been conferred upon

Suggests a formal or ceremonial bestowal.

FAQs

How do I use "had been given" in a sentence?

"Had been given" is used to indicate an action of giving that was completed before another action in the past. For example, "She "had been given" instructions before she started the task."

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

You can use alternatives like "had received", "had been granted", or "had been awarded" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "had been given" or "was given"?

"Had been given" indicates an action completed before another past action, while "was given" simply describes an action in the past. Use "had been given" when you need to establish a sequence of past events.

What's the difference between "had been given" and "had given"?

"Had been given" is in the passive voice, meaning someone received something. "Had given" is in the active voice, meaning someone provided something. For example, "She "had been given" a present" versus "She had given a present".