had been passed

USAGE SUMMARY

"had been passed" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to an action that was completed in the past, before another specific point in the past. For example: "The law had been passed before the election."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

A tradition had been passed.

The New York Times

The congratulations had been passed around.

The New York Times - Sports

The original said the modern slavery bill had been passed.

The Guardian

It was like the torch had been passed.

The New York Times - Travel

Symbolically, it seemed, the Cup mantle had been passed.

The New York Times - Sports

He could not campaign until the tests had been passed.

The Guardian

Previously, the tube had been passed through his mouth.

The New York Times

In the room where the bands play, that point had been passed some time ago.

The New Yorker

Sanchez explained that the football had been passed among the Jets — a team thing, he said.

The New York Times - Sports

The bill had been passed in the Senate, but not in the House.

The New Yorker

No-fault divorce laws had been passed in many states, and divorce rates were climbing.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been passed", ensure that the context clearly establishes a past event before another point in the past. This helps maintain clarity and chronological order in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "had been passed" when referring to events in the present or future. This tense is specifically for actions completed before another point in the past, not for current or upcoming situations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been passed" functions as a past perfect passive construction, indicating that an action was completed before another point in the past. Ludwig provides examples from various contexts to illustrate its usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

39%

Science

27%

Wiki

13%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Formal & Business

7%

Social Media

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been passed" is a grammatically sound past perfect passive construction widely used to indicate that an action was completed before another event in the past. As highlighted by Ludwig, its usage spans across various authoritative sources like news media and scientific publications. While versatile, it is crucial to use it accurately within the right tense sequence, avoiding its application to present or future events. Related phrases such as "had been enacted" or "had been approved" can be used for semantic variation, but make sure they follow the context. According to Ludwig, the phrase is appropriate in a variety of writing situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been enacted

Replaces "passed" with "enacted", emphasizing the formal implementation of a law or regulation.

had been approved

Substitutes "passed" with "approved", focusing on the consent or agreement aspect.

had been adopted

Uses "adopted" instead of "passed", highlighting the acceptance and implementation of a proposal or idea.

had been transferred

Replaces "passed" with "transferred", indicating a movement from one entity to another.

had been handed down

Uses "handed down" instead of "passed", emphasizing the inheritance or tradition aspect.

had been conveyed

Substitutes "passed" with "conveyed", highlighting the communication or transmission of information.

had been transmitted

Replaces "passed" with "transmitted", focusing on the sending of data or signals.

had been bequeathed

Uses "bequeathed" instead of "passed", indicating the act of leaving something in a will.

had been disseminated

Substitutes "passed" with "disseminated", emphasizing the spreading of information widely.

had been circulated

Replaces "passed" with "circulated", highlighting the distribution of something among a group.

FAQs

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

Use "had been passed" to describe an action that was completed before another event in the past. For example, "The law "had been passed" before the election took place".

What is a good alternative to "had been passed"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "had been approved", "had been enacted", or "had been adopted".

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

While "was passed" is grammatically correct, ""had been passed"" indicates that the action occurred before another point in the past, establishing a clearer sequence of events. If there isn't another event to compare it to in the past, using "was passed" can be enough.

What is the difference between "had been passed" and "has been passed"?

"Had been passed" is used for past perfect tense, indicating an action completed before another past action. "Has been passed" is present perfect tense, indicating an action completed at some point before now, but relevant to the present.