had been preparing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been preparing" is correct and usable in written English.
It is the past perfect progressive tense, which is used to describe an action that started in the past and continued up until another point in the past. Example: "She had been preparing for her presentation for weeks, but she still felt nervous as she walked into the conference room."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

They had been preparing for decades.

The New York Times

"We had been preparing for tougher times.

The New York Times

"The High Command had been preparing him, grooming him.

University of California, Berkeley

The crew had been preparing for the bash all afternoon.

The New Yorker

The team had been preparing to draft him for days.

The New York Times - Sports

The activists had been preparing for the rally for months.

The New Yorker

Madrid had been preparing this game for months.

The Guardian - Sport

Mr. Eisenberg said Equity had been preparing those concessions simultaneously.

The New York Times

Mr. Hernandez had been preparing to wait it out.

The New York Times

Both had been preparing for a possible presidential run in 2018.

The Economist

Mr. Rondos, who had been out on hefty bail, had been preparing for some time.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been preparing" to emphasize the duration and continuous nature of the preparation leading up to a specific point in the past. For instance, "They had been preparing for months, so the success of the event was no surprise."

Common error

Ensure consistency by using the past perfect progressive ("had been preparing") only when referring to an action that began and continued before another point in the past. Avoid switching to simple past tense without reason. For example, avoid "They had been preparing for the exam and then they passed it easily" since the passing is a direct result of the preparing, so it should be 'they had been preparing for the exam and then they passed it easily'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been preparing" functions as the past perfect progressive (or continuous) tense of the verb "prepare." It describes an action that began in the past, continued for a period, and was completed before another point in the past. Ludwig's examples showcase its use in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

63%

Academia

9%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been preparing" is the past perfect progressive tense, indicating a continuous action completed before a specific point in the past. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, this phrase is grammatically sound and widely used. It appears most frequently in news and media contexts but is also found in academic and other writing. When using this phrase, ensure consistency in tenses and consider alternatives like "had been getting ready" or "had been training" to add nuance. Remember to emphasize the duration of preparation and its relevance to a subsequent event.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been getting ready

Focuses on the process of becoming ready, emphasizing the gradual nature of preparation.

had been training

Implies a more structured and disciplined approach to preparation, often involving skill development.

had been making arrangements

Highlights the act of organizing and planning specific details in advance.

had been laying the groundwork

Emphasizes establishing a foundation or necessary preconditions for a future event.

had been gearing up

Suggests an increase in intensity and effort in anticipation of an upcoming event.

had been anticipating

Highlights the expectation and mental preparation for something in the future.

had been planning

Focuses on the strategic aspect of preparation, involving the formulation of a course of action.

had been working towards

Emphasizes the effort and dedication invested in achieving a specific goal.

had been equipping themselves

Highlights the acquisition of necessary tools or resources for a task.

had been steeling themselves

Implies a mental and emotional preparation to face a difficult or challenging situation.

FAQs

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

The phrase "had been preparing" indicates an action that started in the past and continued until a specific point in the past. For example: "She had been preparing for the marathon for months before the race finally took place."

What are some alternatives to "had been preparing"?

You can use alternatives like "had been getting ready", "had been training", or "had been making arrangements" depending on the context.

Is "had been prepared" the same as "had been preparing"?

"Had been prepared" indicates that something was made ready by someone else. "Had been preparing" indicates someone was actively making ready. For example, "The meal had been prepared by the chef" versus "The chef had been preparing the meal."

When should I use "had been preparing" instead of "was preparing"?

"Was preparing" indicates an action in progress at a specific time in the past. "Had been preparing" emphasizes the duration and completion of preparation before another event in the past. For instance, "She was preparing dinner when I arrived" versus "She had been preparing dinner all afternoon, so it was ready when I arrived."