had been promised

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been promised" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that was promised in the past. Example: I had been promised an increase in salary next year, but unfortunately that never happened.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

They had been promised lunch.

The New York Times

We had been promised fishing.

The Guardian - Travel

Animals had been promised, including whales.

The New Yorker

Within days more than $350m had been promised.

The Economist

Journeys of 350km an hour had been promised.

The Economist

They had been promised extra goodies to support the USDP.

The Economist

A future that had been promised but never arrived.

The New York Times - Magazine

We didn't think TI could ship what had been promised.

Harvard Business Review

Naturally it came a bit later than had been promised.

The Times

The publishers had been promised 350 pages, and received 173.

The Guardian - Books

The gift had been promised late last week.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Ensure clarity by specifying who made the promise and what was promised, as well as the context in which the promise was made.

Common error

Avoid using "had been promised" when referring to a future promise; use "will be promised" or "is to be promised" instead. "Had been promised" refers to a promise made and potentially broken in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been promised" functions as a passive perfect construction, indicating that someone received a promise in the past. It often carries the implication that the promise was not fulfilled. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating its usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Academia

10%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Science

17%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had been promised" is a grammatically sound and frequently used construction, as confirmed by Ludwig AI, to express a past promise that often went unfulfilled. It is prevalent in news and media, as well as academic writing, indicating a versatile application across various contexts. When crafting sentences with "had been promised", ensure the tense is accurate, and consider alternatives like "was assured" or "was guaranteed" for nuanced meanings. Pay attention to the register, avoiding overly casual use, while being mindful of the potential negative implication that the promise was not kept.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was guaranteed

Implies a stronger level of certainty and reliability compared to a promise.

was assured

Focuses on the assurance given, rather than the promise itself.

was given assurances

Highlights the act of providing comfort and confidence through promises.

was pledged

Suggests a formal or solemn promise, often used in official contexts.

was given a commitment

Similar to pledged, but with a lesser tone of formality.

was committed to

Highlights the dedication and obligation associated with the promise.

was contracted for

Suggests a legally binding agreement, implying a more formal and enforceable promise.

was given an undertaking

Emphasizes the formal nature of the agreement and the responsibility taken on.

was led to believe

Indicates that someone was made to expect something, often with a hint of potential deception.

was under the impression

Similar to "was led to believe", suggesting a subjective understanding that may not be entirely accurate.

FAQs

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

"Had been promised" indicates something that someone was told would happen, but often with the implication that it did not. For example, "They "had been promised" lunch, but it never arrived".

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

"Was promised" generally refers to a single promise, while ""had been promised"" suggests a past promise that is being reflected upon, often with disappointment or disbelief.

What are some alternatives to "had been promised"?

Alternatives include "was assured", "was guaranteed", or "was pledged", depending on the context and the strength of the commitment.

Is it correct to say "they had been promised"?

Yes, "they "had been promised"" is grammatically correct and commonly used. Ludwig AI confirms its validity for expressing past promises, as shown in numerous examples.