had been invited

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been invited" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone received an invitation at some point in the past, often in a context where the timing of the invitation is relevant to the current situation. Example: "She was excited to attend the party because she had been invited by her best friend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Of these, fifty had been invited.

The New Yorker

We had been invited to watch.

The Guardian

Several said Thursday that they had been invited, but declined.

The New York Times

(Mr. Panahi had been invited to sit on the jury).

The New York Times

"Horowitz told everyone that he had been invited," Gelb recalls.

The New Yorker

(He said he had been invited to 10).

The New York Times

But the press had been invited and arrived in numbers.

The Guardian

I had been invited on to BBC radio.

The Guardian - Opinion

China refused, insisting its police officers had been invited in.

The New York Times

We had been invited to hear Christopher O.

The New York Times

But notably absent was Governor Paterson, who had been invited.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider using the active voice ("They invited him") if the inviter is known and you want to emphasize their role.

Common error

Avoid using the simple past tense ("was invited") when the past perfect is more appropriate. If the invitation is prior to another event being discussed, use "had been invited" to clearly establish the timeline.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been invited" functions as a past perfect passive construction. It indicates that someone received an invitation at some point in the past, prior to another action or state also in the past. Ludwig AI confirms this usage across a wide variety of contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

81%

Wiki

11%

Science

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been invited" is a grammatically correct and frequently used past perfect passive construction that signifies an invitation received prior to a specific past event. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is commonly found in News & Media sources, with a more neutral tone. When using this expression, it's important to be mindful of the correct tense to ensure the sequence of events is clear. Related phrases like "received an invitation" or "was asked to attend" can offer similar nuances depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had received an invitation to

More explicit about the receipt of the invitation, specifying the event or activity.

was invited

Represents a simpler past tense passive form, lacking the emphasis on the prior nature of the invitation.

received an invitation

Focuses on the act of receiving the invitation rather than the state of being invited.

had been asked to

Indicates a request or solicitation, rather than a formal invitation.

had an open invitation

Suggests a standing invitation, valid for an indefinite period.

were selected to attend

Implies a selection process in addition to the invitation.

had the opportunity to attend

Emphasizes the chance or possibility to attend, not necessarily a direct invitation.

had been granted access

Suggests permission or authorization, rather than an invitation for social purposes.

was welcome to join

Implies openness and acceptance, rather than a formal invitation.

had been cleared to participate

Indicates approval or clearance, often in a formal or regulated context.

FAQs

How is "had been invited" different from "was invited"?

"Was invited" implies a simple past action, while "had been invited" indicates that the invitation occurred before another event in the past. The latter emphasizes the sequence of events.

What are some alternatives to "had been invited"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "received an invitation", "was asked to attend", or "had the opportunity to attend".

Is "had been invited" formal or informal?

"Had been invited" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. The formality depends more on the surrounding language and the situation being described.

Can I use "had been invited" in the active voice?

While "had been invited" is in the passive voice, you can rephrase it in the active voice. For example, instead of "He had been invited", you can say "They had invited him."