had been obtained

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been obtained" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in the past perfect tense to indicate that something was acquired or received before another past event. Example: "The necessary approvals had been obtained before the project commenced."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He insisted that valuable information had been obtained.

The Guardian

And the information had been obtained through hacking?

The Guardian - Music

Meanwhile, the optimum parameters of ultrasonic stimulation had been obtained.

Colloids and Surfaces B: Biointerfaces

All parameters indicate that pure groundwater had been obtained.

Journal of Sea Research

Thus where the goods had been obtained by false representations the true owner was not estopped.

Harvard University

674, had been obtained from Lawn in violation of his constitutional rights.

Cornell University

The earlier increase in traffic had been obtained by unsustainable means, Mr. Taylor explained.

The New York Times

The government said that the evidence against him had been obtained illegally by the Americans.

The Guardian

He added that the figures had been obtained from public authorities, institutes and businesses in China.

The Guardian

It was still unclear whether the prescription pills had been obtained legally.

The New York Times

All the necessary building permits had been obtained, Mr. Madden said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been obtained" when you want to emphasize that something was acquired or received before a specific point in the past. This helps to clarify the sequence of events in your narrative.

Common error

Avoid using "had been obtained" when a simple past tense ("was obtained") is sufficient. Overusing the past perfect can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex. Use "was obtained" if the timing of the acquisition is not relevant to another past event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been obtained" functions as the past perfect passive voice, indicating that something was acquired or received before a specific point in the past. Ludwig examples show it's used to describe how information, permissions, or results were acquired.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

40%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been obtained" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase in English, functioning as the past perfect passive voice. As Ludwig AI states, it serves to indicate that something was acquired before a specific point in the past. While versatile, it's most commonly encountered in scientific and news contexts, maintaining a neutral register. Remember to reserve its use for situations where clarifying the sequence of past events is crucial, preventing overuse in favor of the simple past tense when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been acquired by

Specifies the agent that obtained the item or information.

were acquired

Focuses on the act of acquiring something, often material or informational.

had been secured through

Emphasizes the method by which something was obtained.

had been received

Focuses on the act of receiving something, often passively.

were secured

Highlights the effort involved in obtaining something, suggesting it was difficult to get.

had been procured

Suggests a formal or official process of obtaining something.

had been attained

Implies a level of achievement or effort in obtaining something.

had been accessed

Indicates gaining entry or access to something, often information or a system.

had been derived

Highlights the source or origin from which something was obtained.

had come into possession of

Emphasizes the act of gaining possession of something.

FAQs

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

"Had been obtained" indicates that something was acquired before a specific time in the past. For example, "The necessary permits "had been obtained" before construction began."

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

Alternatives include "were acquired", "had been secured", or "had been received", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "was obtained" instead of "had been obtained"?

Yes, "was obtained" is correct, but it doesn't emphasize that the event occurred before another past event. Use ""had been obtained"" to clarify the sequence of past events.

What's the difference between "had been obtained" and "was obtained"?

"Had been obtained" is in the past perfect passive voice, indicating an action completed before another point in the past. "Was obtained" is in the simple past passive voice, simply stating that the action occurred at some point in the past without specifying its relation to another past event.