had been seeing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been seeing" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is used to express a past action that happened over a period of time, but has since stopped. For example: "He had been seeing her for two years before they broke up."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Nichols had been seeing another woman, who became pregnant.

The New Yorker

She told me that she had been seeing a therapist.

The New Yorker

I had been seeing my patient for 12 years.

The New York Times - Health

He had been seeing patients in his office all morning.

The New Yorker

Margaret&Billy had been seeing each other for 46 days.

The New Yorker

I had been seeing Jodorowsky the last couple years in Paris and we'd become quite close.

The New York Times

(I had been seeing him twice weekly for several years at this point).

The New Yorker

Detectives set up surveillance on Mr. Nichols, learning that he had been seeing another woman.

The New York Times

They were also escaping the infuriating left-handed pitching they had been seeing.

The New York Times

A male student had been seeing his boyfriend for two years.

The Guardian

That night, Juliet told Gary, the man she had been seeing, about Penelope.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been seeing" to emphasize the duration of an action or state in the past before another past event. For instance, "She had been seeing a therapist for years before she finally felt better."

Common error

Avoid using the simple past tense ("saw") when you want to emphasize the duration of the action. For example, instead of saying "She saw a therapist", use "She "had been seeing" a therapist" to indicate the prolonged nature of the therapy.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "had been seeing" is to form the past perfect continuous tense, indicating an action that was in progress over a period of time that ended before another action in the past. Ludwig provides numerous examples to support this usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been seeing" is a versatile construction used to denote an ongoing action or state in the past that preceded another event. Ludwig AI affirms its grammatical correctness and offers numerous examples spanning diverse contexts, from news reports to personal narratives. When writing, remember that using "had been seeing" is most effective when emphasizing the duration of the action. Alternatives like "was seeing" or "used to see" may be more appropriate depending on the nuance you wish to convey. As demonstrated by Ludwig, this phrase is prevalent in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, making it a valuable addition to your writing toolkit.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was seeing

Uses a simpler past continuous tense, lacking the perfective aspect.

had seen

Implies a completed action in the past, without emphasizing duration.

used to see

Indicates a habitual action or state in the past that is no longer true.

had been dating

Specifically refers to a romantic relationship that occurred over a period in the past.

had been observing

Focuses on the act of observation over a period.

had been consulting

Refers to seeking professional advice over time.

had been attending

Specifically refers to regularly going to a place or event in the past.

had been undergoing

Implies experiencing a process or treatment over time.

had been treated by

Emphasizes the medical care received from someone in the past.

had been receiving

Focuses on the act of getting something continuously.

FAQs

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

"Had been seeing" indicates a past action that continued for a period of time before another action or point in time. For example, "He "had been seeing" another woman when his girlfriend found out."

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

"Was seeing" indicates a continuous action in the past. "Had been seeing" emphasizes the duration and completion of the action before another event. For example, "He was seeing someone" versus "He "had been seeing" someone for months before they broke up."

Which is correct, "had been seeing" or "had saw"?

"Had been seeing" is the correct form. "Had saw" is grammatically incorrect; the past participle of "see" is "seen", and the past perfect continuous requires "been" after "had."

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

You can use alternatives like "was seeing", "used to see", or "had dated" depending on the specific context.