had been questioned

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been questioned" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone was interrogated or asked questions at some point in the past, often in a context involving investigations or inquiries. Example: "The witness had been questioned multiple times before the trial began."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

His famous eye had been questioned.

The New Yorker

Her inevitability had been questioned...

The Washington Post

His professional honor had been questioned.

The New York Times

In years past, Leinart's maturity and drive had been questioned.

The New York Times

For so long, Hibs' bottle had been questioned.

The Guardian - Sport

His treasured honor had been questioned, and that hurt.

The New York Times - Books

He said he was highly offended that his philanthropic pledges had been questioned last year.

The New York Times

Mr. Bucur's wife, Marinella, said he had been questioned but not arrested.

The New York Times

I interviewed him at the time, after he had been questioned and cleared by Tunisian police.

Independent

The painting had not been shown since 1945, and its attribution had been questioned.

The New York Times - Arts

The company defended its accounting, which had been questioned by the fund manager David Einhorn.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been questioned" to indicate a past action where someone was interrogated or asked questions, especially in legal or investigative contexts. For example, "The suspect had been questioned by the police before being released."

Common error

Avoid using "had been questioned" when you mean to say someone is currently being questioned. The past perfect tense implies the questioning is completed.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been questioned" functions as a verb phrase in the passive voice, indicating that the subject of the sentence was the recipient of the action of questioning. This construction is often used to describe investigations, inquiries, or interviews. Ludwig AI confirms this with numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

84%

Academia

7%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Science

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been questioned" is a grammatically correct and commonly used passive voice construction. As Ludwig AI highlights, it indicates that someone was subjected to questioning at some point in the past, frequently in the context of investigations or inquiries. The phrase is most often found in news and media sources, with a neutral to formal register. Remember to use this phrase when you want to convey a completed action of questioning prior to another point in time. It’s important to avoid using it when you intend to describe an ongoing interrogation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was interrogated

Replaces 'questioned' with a more formal and potentially intense term, suggesting a formal interrogation.

was interviewed

Substitutes 'questioned' with a more neutral term, implying a conversation to gather information.

was investigated

Implies a formal and structured examination of someone or something.

came under scrutiny

Shifts the focus to the act of being examined closely, rather than a direct questioning.

faced inquiries

Replaces 'questioned' with a more formal term, suggesting an official investigation or questioning.

was probed about

Suggests a deeper and more thorough questioning or investigation.

was subjected to examination

Emphasizes the thoroughness and detail of the questioning process.

was asked about

A more straightforward and less formal way of saying someone was questioned.

had his reliability doubted

Focuses on doubting the trustworthiness of someone due to past actions or statements.

had her integrity challenged

Highlights that someone's honesty is under suspicion due to certain actions or statements.

FAQs

How can I use "had been questioned" in a sentence?

Use "had been questioned" to describe a past event where someone was interrogated or asked questions. For instance, "The witness "had been questioned" by the lawyers prior to the trial."

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

"Had been questioned" indicates an action completed before another point in the past, while "was questioned" simply describes a past action. For example: "He "had been questioned" about the incident before the police arrived." versus "He "was questioned" about the incident."

What are some alternatives to "had been questioned"?

You can use alternatives such as "was interrogated", "was interviewed", or "faced inquiries" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "has been questioned" instead of "had been questioned"?

The correct tense depends on the context. "Has been questioned" indicates an action that started in the past and continues to have relevance in the present, whereas "had been questioned" refers to a completed action in the past. For example: "He "has been questioned" multiple times regarding this case." implies the questioning might still be ongoing or relevant, while "He "had been questioned" about it last year." refers to a specific past instance.