had been sentenced

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been sentenced" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe a situation where someone has received a legal punishment in the past, often in a narrative or report about a court case. Example: "After a lengthy trial, the defendant had been sentenced to five years in prison for his crimes."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He had been sentenced to thirty years.

The New Yorker

She had been sentenced for wearing trousers.

The Guardian

Mr. Sukari also had been sentenced to death.

The New York Times

Until Tuesday, none had been sentenced by the courts.

The Guardian

He had been sentenced after pleading guilty in a robbery.

The Washington Post

Koch had been sentenced to death and was to be hanged publicly before the assembled detainees.

Yale University

(Actually, only two had been sentenced to death).

The New York Times

What if they had been sentenced to death?

The New York Times

Several of those held had been sentenced to death.

The Guardian

Ibrahim, 27, had been sentenced to death for apostasy.

The Guardian

In 1989, this Court held that petitioner Penry had been sentenced to death in violation of the Eighth Amendment.

Cornell University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been sentenced" to clearly indicate that the sentencing occurred at a specific point in the past, especially when discussing events in chronological order. This clarifies the sequence of events for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "has been sentenced" when referring to a past event completed before another past action; "had been sentenced" is more appropriate to establish the correct timeline.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been sentenced" functions as a past perfect passive construction. It indicates that someone received a legal punishment at a point in the past prior to another event that is also in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

72%

Academia

21%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

1%

Science

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been sentenced" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase for describing a sentencing event completed before another point in the past. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it functions as a past perfect passive construction and serves to establish a clear timeline in narratives, news reports, and academic discussions. While versatile, it's important to select it over alternatives such as "was sentenced" when the sequence of past events needs clarification. It appears most commonly in the "News & Media".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

received a sentence

Focuses on the act of receiving the sentence, rather than the process leading up to it.

was given a sentence

Similar to 'received a sentence', but emphasizes the act of giving by an authority.

was handed down a sentence

Emphasizes the official nature of the sentencing process.

faced sentencing

Highlights the process leading up to the sentencing.

underwent sentencing

Focuses on the experience of the person being sentenced.

was judged

A more general term implying a formal judgment, which could include sentencing.

was penalized

A broader term that includes any kind of punishment, not just legal sentences.

was condemned

Implies a strong negative judgment, often with severe consequences.

bore the sentence of

Focuses on the consequence of someone receiving the punishment of the sentence.

had judgment passed upon

A formal and somewhat archaic way of saying someone was sentenced.

FAQs

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

Use "had been sentenced" to describe an event of sentencing that concluded before another action in the past. For example, "Before the appeal, he "had been sentenced" to five years."

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

"Was sentenced" indicates a simple past action, while "had been sentenced" indicates an action completed before another point in the past. Use "had been sentenced" to clarify the order of past events.

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

Alternatives include "received a sentence", "was given a sentence", or "faced sentencing", depending on the desired emphasis and context.

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

The choice depends on the context. "Has been sentenced" refers to an event in the past with relevance to the present. "Had been sentenced" refers to a past event completed before another past event.