had been played

USAGE SUMMARY

"had been played" is a correct and commonly used phrase in English grammar.
It is the past perfect tense of the verb "to play." It indicates that an action was completed in the past before another action took place. Example: By the time we arrived at the theater, the movie had already been played twice.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Chess

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"He had been played".

The New York Times

No games had been played yet.

The New York Times - Sports

Just 3 05 had been played.

The New York Times - Sports

If someone, somewhere had been played.

The Guardian - Sport

All of 33 seconds had been played.

The New York Times - Sports

Within days, the video had been played almost thirty times.

The New Yorker

One of the two had been played by an actor.

The New York Times

Not even half an hour had been played.

Independent

Only six and a half minutes had been played.

The New York Times - Sports

Through 12 Ne2, all had been played before.

The New York Times

Everything through 16 Rd4 had been played before.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been played" to clearly indicate an action completed before another point in the past, ensuring chronological clarity in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "had been played" when the simple past tense ("was played") is sufficient. Overusing the past perfect can make your writing sound stilted or unnecessarily complex.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been played" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect passive voice. This construction is used to indicate that an action was completed before another point in the past. Ludwig examples show its use in describing completed actions in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Sports

25%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been played" is a grammatically correct and very common verb phrase in the past perfect passive voice. It's used to indicate that an action was completed before another point in the past. As affirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is widely accepted and used across various contexts, particularly in news and media, sports reporting, and general writing. When using this phrase, ensure that the context clearly establishes a sequence of past events to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was played

This alternative uses the simple past passive tense instead of the past perfect passive, indicating the action occurred at a specific time.

had taken place

This alternative highlights the setting or environment where an event happened, adding a spatial dimension.

had transpired

This alternative focuses on the occurrence or taking place of an event, offering a more formal tone.

had occurred

This alternative emphasizes the happening or taking place of an event, often used in more formal or factual contexts.

had unfolded

This alternative suggests a gradual revelation or development of events, adding a sense of narrative.

was carried out

This alternative focuses on the execution of a task or plan, emphasizing the process.

was enacted

This alternative implies a formal or structured performance or event, such as a law or play.

was performed

This alternative is typically used to describe a piece of music, play, or other form of entertainment that was executed.

had been executed

This alternative stresses the completion or carrying out of a plan, order, or action.

had come to pass

This alternative suggests a realization of something that was anticipated or predicted, often with a sense of inevitability.

FAQs

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

Use "had been played" to indicate an action that was completed before another action in the past. For example, "The song "had been played" many times before I arrived at the party".

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

"Was played" indicates a simple past action, while "had been played" indicates an action completed before another point in the past. The latter is used to establish a sequence of past events.

What are some alternatives to "had been played"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "was played", "had occurred", or "had taken place".

Is "had been played" formal or informal?

"Had been played" is suitable for both formal and informal writing, depending on the overall tone and context. It's grammatically correct and widely understood.