had been invented

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been invented" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that something was created or developed at a point in the past before another past event. Example: "By the time the new technology was introduced, many similar devices had been invented."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

film, had been invented.

The New Yorker

Nothing else had been invented".

The Guardian

Everything I was had been invented.

The Guardian

Neither Amazon nor Google had been invented.

The Guardian - Books

If he had been, and phones had been invented, they would no doubt have been ringing.

The New York Times

She'd want to know what other technological marvels had been invented in the past 41 years.

The New York Times

I then posed a proposition: imagine the internet had been invented before newspapers.

Independent

"Because it was so unexpected a lot of people thought it had been invented.

The Guardian

A special insult, I discovered, had been invented for people like me: "Big for nothing".

The New York Times

Farther down the street was the place where he said celluloid had been invented.

The New York Times

And once snacking had been invented, all the glories of human civilization were bound to follow.

The New York Times - Science

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing about technological advancements, use "had been invented" to emphasize that the invention occurred before a specific point in time. For example: "By 1950, the transistor "had been invented", revolutionizing electronics."

Common error

Avoid using "had been invented" when simply stating the existence of an invention without reference to a prior past event. Instead, use "was invented". For example, say "The telephone was invented by Alexander Graham Bell" instead of "The telephone had been invented by Alexander Graham Bell."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been invented" functions as a past perfect passive construction, indicating that something was created or devised at a point in time preceding another past event. Ludwig's examples show its use in various contexts, confirming its established grammatical role.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Encyclopedias

15%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Science

15%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had been invented" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression that employs the past perfect tense to denote an invention or creation prior to a specific past event. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is most commonly found in "News & Media", "Encyclopedias" and "Wiki" contexts, and its neutral register makes it suitable for various forms of communication. It's crucial to use the past perfect tense correctly, distinguishing it from the simple past to accurately convey chronological order. When a simple past tense is needed the term "was invented" can be preferred. By understanding the appropriate context and grammatical function, writers can confidently and effectively use "had been invented" in their work.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was created

Focuses on the act of creation rather than the specific process of invention.

was devised

Emphasizes the planning and cleverness involved in the creation.

was developed

Highlights the process of improvement and refinement in the creation.

was pioneered

Highlights the innovative aspect and being the first to develop something.

was originated

Stresses the point of origin or beginning of something.

was conceived

Focuses on the initial idea or mental formulation of something.

came into being

A more formal way of saying something was created or started to exist.

was formulated

Suggests a structured and methodical approach to creation.

was brought into existence

A more elaborate way of saying something was created.

was established

Implies setting up or founding something, often used for systems or organizations.

FAQs

How is "had been invented" used in a sentence?

Use "had been invented" to indicate that something was created or developed before a specific time in the past. For example: "By the time the first personal computers became available, the microchip "had been invented"."

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

You can use alternatives such as "was created", "was devised", or "was developed" depending on the specific context.

When should I use "was invented" versus "had been invented"?

"Was invented" is used to state the simple past, while "had been invented" is used for the past perfect, indicating an action completed before another action in the past. Example: "The printing press was invented in the 15th century. By the 16th century, books were more widely available because the printing press "had been invented"".

Is it correct to say "had been invented by"?

Yes, "had been invented by" is grammatically correct and used to specify the inventor of something in the past perfect tense. For example: "The telephone "had been invented" by Alexander Graham Bell before the first public call was made."