had been intended

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been intended" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something was planned or meant to happen in the past. Example: "The changes to the schedule had been intended to improve efficiency, but they ended up causing confusion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He later said the bullets had been intended for him.

The New York Times

This money had been intended to give the I.M.F.

The New York Times

"Clarissa" had been intended as something of a correction.

The New Yorker

He said those remarks had been intended as a joke.

The New York Times

However, the guidebook was seldom used as it had been intended during consultations.

Patient Education and Counseling

The phase that had been intended of education, of treatment, and hopefully of eradication, never materialized.

Yale University

It had been intended as a weekend place, closed up in the winter.

The New Yorker

Investigators suggested that the money had been intended to buy a gun.

The New York Times

The second had been intended to serve as a backup and was not completed.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The playground's architect, Thomas Balsley, has denied that any such subtext had been intended.

The New Yorker

The show will likely undergo some changes from what had been intended for ABC.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been intended", ensure that the context clearly indicates who made the intention and what the intended outcome was. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "had been intended" when a simple past tense like "was intended" is sufficient. Use "had been intended" when referring to an intention that preceded another past event. For example: "The gift was ultimately given to someone else because it had been intended for her sister, who had passed away."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been intended" functions as a past perfect passive construction. It indicates a prior intention or plan that existed before another action or state in the past. Ludwig AI confirms the usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Wiki

13%

Science

10%

Less common in

Academia

6%

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been intended" is a grammatically sound and versatile phrase used to describe a past intention that preceded another event. Ludwig AI's analysis of numerous examples confirms its frequent use in news, academic, and general writing. It's crucial to ensure the context clarifies the intention and the actor behind it. Alternatives such as "was meant to be" or "was designed for" can offer similar meanings, but the past perfect tense in "had been intended" is important when establishing a sequence of past events. Be mindful of the potential for ambiguity and always aim for clarity in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was meant to be

Emphasizes the original purpose or design.

was designed for

Highlights the intended function or use.

was supposed to be

Indicates an expectation or plan that may or may not have been fulfilled.

was planned as

Focuses on the initial planning stage.

was purposed for

Stresses the aim or goal behind the intention.

was destined to be

Suggests a predetermined outcome or fate.

was conceived as

Highlights the initial idea or concept.

was envisioned as

Emphasizes the mental image or idea of the intention.

was earmarked for

Indicates that something was specifically set aside for a particular purpose.

was slated for

Suggests a formal or official plan.

FAQs

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

Use "had been intended" to describe a past intention that preceded another event in the past. For example, "The funds "had been intended" for a new school, but they were diverted to road construction instead."

What's a more straightforward way to say "had been intended"?

Alternatives include "was meant to be", "was designed for", or "was supposed to be". The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey. Consider, for example, if "the project "was designed for" long-term growth" works better than "the project "had been intended" for long-term growth."

Is "had been intended" formal or informal?

"Had been intended" is suitable for both formal and neutral contexts. Its appropriateness hinges more on the surrounding vocabulary and sentence structure than the phrase itself.

How does "had been intended" differ from "was intended"?

"Had been intended" indicates an intention that existed before another past event, while "was intended" describes an intention at a specific point in the past. For example: "The letter "was intended" for her, but it never arrived" versus "The letter "had been intended" to arrive before her birthday, but it got lost in the mail."