had been past

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been past" is not correct and does not convey a clear meaning in written English.
It seems to be an incorrect combination of tenses and does not fit standard grammatical structures. Example: "By the time we arrived, the opportunity had been past."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

There had been past trouble with Mr. Cabrera, the police said.

The New York Times

When asked about their termination costs this spring, however, ATK and Lockheed Martin said they expected NASA to pay for them, as had been past practice.

The New York Times - Science

But as a parent, I may be obligated to lock the front door at night even though this would not be a norm unless there had been past violations of other norms (e.g., against theft and murder).

SEP

It was the first time that Kovalev had been past the eighth round in his professional career but he shone in the 12th, sending the American against the ropes and landing 38 punches, the most ever against Hopkins in 41 fights analysed by CompuBox.

BBC

The talks had to remain secret because there had been past tensions between the two, and board members didn't want Deasy to know they were courting Cortines.

Los Angeles Times

She had characterised it as "a very big ballad but in an inspirational way" and denied speculation that there had been past rivalry or animosity between her and Houston prior to its recording: "I never even really talked to her until this.

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

There have been past cases of this.

The New York Times

There have been past instances when non-U.S.

The Guardian

While the UK, Sweden, Japan and Germany have been past trips, Argentina is currently instore.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

"That mantle in a sense has been past," said Ralph Lerner, dean of the architecture school.

The New York Times

All of the names above have been past A-Listers.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Avoid using the phrase "had been past" in formal writing. Opt for clearer alternatives like "had already passed" or rephrase the sentence for better clarity.

Common error

The past perfect tense ("had been") combined with "past" can create redundancy and confusion. Ensure your intended meaning is clear by choosing a more precise verb.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been past" is often intended to function as part of a verb phrase in the past perfect tense, indicating that an action or state occurred before another point in the past. However, Ludwig AI indicates that it is often an incorrect combination of tenses.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

32%

Science

28%

Wiki

16%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

8%

Reference

8%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "had been past" appears in various sources, it's generally considered grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI highlights its problematic nature, advising against its use. The intended purpose is often to indicate something occurring before a specific time, but alternatives like "had already passed" or "had gone by" offer better clarity and grammatical correctness. It's advisable to avoid this phrase in formal writing and opt for more precise alternatives. While usage is common, it does not mean it is grammatically correct. Focus on using clearer and more accepted ways of expressing past events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had already passed

Indicates that something occurred before a specific point in time, offering a clearer and grammatically correct alternative.

had gone beyond

Suggests exceeding a limit or boundary, replacing "past" with a more explicit term.

had occurred before

Directly states that something happened at an earlier time, providing clarity.

had transpired

A more formal and literary way of saying something happened before.

had exceeded

Implies surpassing a certain limit, similar to "gone beyond".

had advanced beyond

Suggests moving further than a specific point, adding a sense of progression.

had left behind

Focuses on what was abandoned or superseded.

had outgrown

Implies maturing or developing beyond a previous state.

had concluded

Indicates the completion of something before a specific time.

had finished

A simpler way to express that something was completed earlier.

FAQs

What is a more grammatically correct way to use "had been" in a sentence?

Use "had been" with a past participle to form the past perfect continuous tense, like "He "had been working" for hours before the power outage."

What can I say instead of "had been past" to indicate something has already happened?

Consider using phrases like "had already passed", "had gone by", or "had already occurred" for clarity.

Is "had been past" ever correct in English?

While rare, it might be used in very specific, non-standard contexts. However, it's generally best to rephrase for better grammatical accuracy.

How does the meaning change if I use "had passed" instead of "had been past"?

"Had passed" clearly indicates that something occurred and concluded before a specific time. "Had been past" is ambiguous and often grammatically incorrect, potentially leading to misinterpretation.