had been operated

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been operated" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in the past perfect tense to indicate that an action (in this case, an operation) was completed before another action in the past. Example: "The patient had been operated on before the complications arose."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He had been operated on for a stomach ulcer.

The New Yorker

It had been operated by Yemenia Air since 1999.

The Guardian

It had been operated by the Russian airline since 2012.

The Guardian

108/150 patients (72%) had been operated of whom 61 (57%) had corrective surgery.

International Journal of Cardiology

The majority of these MBR plants had been operated stably for at least 1 year.

Journal of Membrane Science

The in-vessel components are full graphite tiles as first wall had been operated successfully.

Fusion Engineering and Design

The previous club, the Stars, had been operated by the league before new ownership was found.

The New York Times

Previously, all UAV missions over Afghanistan had been operated from Creech air force base in Nevada.

Independent

Up to that time, almost all fusion experiments had been operated with hydrogen or deuterium plasmas.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Now, at last, it had been operated on and set properly.

The New York Times

Among other things, he said, the tower had been operated for years after its permit expired.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been operated" when you want to emphasize that the surgery was completed before a subsequent event or time in the past. For example, "The patient "had been operated" on before the infection was discovered."

Common error

Avoid using "had been operated" when the active voice is more appropriate or clearer. Instead of "The doctor "had been operated" the patient", use "The doctor had operated on the patient".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been operated" functions as a past perfect passive construction. It indicates that a surgical action was completed before a specific point in the past. Ludwig examples show that this construction is common in medical and technical contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

53%

News & Media

42%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Formal & Business

1%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been operated" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase in English, particularly within scientific and news contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it correctly employs the past perfect passive voice to describe an action completed before a specific time in the past. When writing, ensure to use the active voice instead of the passive one when possible and clearer, and to apply this expression to refer to actions completed before a specific time in the past. Common alternatives include "underwent surgery" and "was operated on". Understanding these nuances will help you use "had been operated" and its related phrases more effectively.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was operated on

Uses a simpler past passive form, omitting "been" for a less emphatic past perfect.

underwent surgery

Replaces the passive voice construction with a more direct active voice, focusing on the subject's experience.

had surgery performed

Emphasizes the performance of the surgery as a distinct event in the past.

received an operation

Focuses on the reception of the operation as a medical event.

had a surgical procedure

Substitutes "operation" with a more formal term, "surgical procedure".

was subjected to surgery

Implies a more forceful or necessary aspect of the surgical intervention.

experienced surgery

Highlights the individual's experience of the surgical process.

was treated surgically

Focuses on the surgical treatment aspect, rather than the operation itself.

had been under the knife

Uses an idiomatic expression suggesting a surgical procedure.

went under the knife

Uses another idiomatic expression for a surgical procedure, less formal.

FAQs

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

The phrase "had been operated" indicates a completed surgical procedure before another action or time in the past. For example, "The machine "had been operated" for years before the new safety regulations were implemented."

What are some alternatives to "had been operated"?

You can use phrases such as "underwent surgery", "was operated on", or "had surgery performed" as alternatives to "had been operated", depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "had been operated on"?

Yes, "had been operated on" is grammatically correct and commonly used. It's the passive voice construction of "to operate on", indicating that someone received surgery. The shorter alternative "was operated" exists, but means something else.

What is the difference between "had been operated" and "was operated on"?

"Had been operated" is in the past perfect passive tense, indicating an action completed before another point in the past. "Was operated on" is in the simple past passive tense, describing a completed action in the past without reference to another time. For example, "He "had been operated" on before the infection was discovered" versus "He was operated on yesterday".