had been sent

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been sent" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is the past perfect passive form of the verb "send". This phrase is used to describe an action that was completed before another past action or event. Example: They received the letter two days ago, but it had been sent out over a week earlier.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It had been sent.

The Guardian - Books

All its staff had been sent home.

The Washington Post

Spud had been sent to get me.

The Guardian

that they had been sent to Auschwitz.

The New Yorker

But the signal had been sent.

The New York Times

No distress signal had been sent.

The Guardian

Their fathers had been sent to prison.

The Guardian

It had been sent from Johannesburg.

The Guardian - Books

Shell later denied that representatives had been sent.

Independent

Formal requests for information had been sent to 23 countries.

Independent

Mr. Bajaj, looking crestfallen, insisted one had been sent.

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been sent" to clearly indicate that the sending action was completed before another event in the past. This helps to establish a clear sequence of events in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "was sent" when you need to emphasize that the action of sending occurred and finished before another past action. Using "had been sent" makes the timeline clearer.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been sent" functions as the past perfect passive voice of the verb 'send'. According to Ludwig, it describes an action that was completed before another action in the past, providing a clear sequence of events.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Academia

24%

Science

19%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been sent" is the past perfect passive form of 'send', used to denote an action completed before another in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage. It frequently appears in news, academic, and scientific contexts. While versatile, paying attention to the tense is crucial to maintaining clarity. Alternative phrases like "was dispatched" and "was forwarded" offer similar meanings with slight nuances.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was dispatched

Focuses on the act of sending with efficiency or urgency. It changes from passive perfect to simple passive.

was forwarded

Implies the item was sent on from an initial recipient. It changes the nuance of initial sending to a secondary sending.

was transmitted

Suggests sending of information or signals. Focuses on the transmission aspect rather than physical dispatch.

had been transmitted

Suggests the sending of data or signals. Focuses on the transmission rather than the object.

was remitted

Used mainly in a financial context to indicate the sending of money. Has a specific financial connotation.

was shipped

Specifies sending via a shipping service, typically for goods. Is limited to physical items being sent.

had been mailed

Refers specifically to sending something through postal services. Is restricted to items sent via mail.

had been issued

Implies an official or formal sending or distribution. Is more formal and official.

had been directed

Focuses on who gave the order to send something. It changes the focus from the sending action to the act of directing the sending.

was conveyed

Implies the item was communicated or transported. It emphasizes the transport of information or objects.

FAQs

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

"Had been sent" indicates a past perfect passive action. For example, "The package had been sent before I realized the address was wrong."

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

"Was sent" describes a simple past passive action, while "had been sent" indicates an action completed before another point in the past. For example, "The email was sent yesterday," versus "The email "had been sent" before he called to cancel it."

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

You can use alternatives like "was dispatched", "was forwarded", or "was transmitted" depending on the context.

Is "had been send" grammatically correct?

No, "had been send" is grammatically incorrect. The correct past participle of "send" is "sent", so the correct phrase is ""had been sent"".