had been permitted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been permitted" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that permission was granted in the past, often in a context where the permission is relevant to a current situation or discussion. Example: "The students had been permitted to leave early on the last day of school."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Perry had been permitted to play at Wimbledon in 1929.

The New York Times - Magazine

Solidarity had been permitted to exist officially for 16 months.

The New Yorker

Only two stories had been permitted, though more than half the structures violate the building code.

The New York Times

Students had been permitted to remain silent or leave the room.

The New York Times

But until Monday, only spouses and parents had been permitted to visit.

The New York Times

If only Waltz had been permitted to let rip with more real wickedness.

The Guardian - Film

It was the first time such an eclectic ceremony had been permitted in the church.

The New York Times

He had been permitted to kiss his infant sister in her coffin.

The New Yorker

Before this, I had been permitted to take small sips of champagne from my father's flute.

The New Yorker

Favored Italian internees had been permitted to work unguarded in the sugar beet fields, she found.

The New York Times - Books

He also established Czech as a language of instruction in the Bohemian schools, where only German had been permitted.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been permitted", ensure the context clearly indicates who granted the permission and under what circumstances. This adds clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "had been permitted" when the permission is still ongoing or valid in the present. Use "is/are permitted" or "has been permitted" instead, depending on the desired meaning.

Linguistic Context

"Had been permitted" functions as a passive perfect construction, indicating that an action (being permitted) was completed before a specific point in the past. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. This grammatical structure emphasizes that permission was granted at some prior time.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Wiki

20%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been permitted" is a grammatically correct and very common passive perfect construction used to indicate that permission was granted at a time before a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. It is frequently found in neutral to formal contexts, particularly in news and media, encyclopedias, and wiki sources. When using this phrase, ensure the context clearly identifies who granted the permission and when it was valid. Alternatives such as "had been allowed", "had been authorized", or "had received approval" can be used depending on the nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been allowed

Simple substitution of 'permitted' with 'allowed', conveying the same meaning.

had been authorized

'Authorized' implies a more formal permission than 'permitted'.

had been granted permission

Adds explicit mention of 'permission' for emphasis.

had received approval

Focuses on the act of receiving approval rather than the permission itself.

had been given leave

'Leave' suggests formal consent, especially in professional or military contexts.

had been cleared

'Cleared' indicates that an obstacle or requirement has been removed, allowing something to proceed.

had been sanctioned

'Sanctioned' implies official approval, often by an authority.

had been empowered

'Empowered' suggests that someone was given the power or authority to do something.

had been entitled

'Entitled' implies a right or legitimate claim to do something.

had been given the green light

An idiomatic expression indicating that approval or permission has been granted.

FAQs

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

"Had been permitted" indicates that permission was granted in the past. For example, "Students "had been permitted" to leave early."

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

"Had been permitted" implies a past perfect tense, indicating an action completed before another point in the past. "Was permitted" is simple past, referring to a specific point in the past.

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

You can use alternatives like "had been allowed", "had received approval", or "had been authorized" depending on the context.

Is "had been permit" grammatically correct?

No, "had been permit" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "had been permitted", using the past participle of the verb "permit".