had been sick

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been sick" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe a past state of illness that occurred before another past event or time. Example: "She had been sick for a week before she finally decided to see a doctor."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She also realised she had been sick.

Independent

His younger sister, Robin, had been sick.

The Washington Post

He had been sick from the camps".

The New York Times

She had been sick for four years.

The New York Times

He had been sick for six weeks.

The New York Times - Magazine

In London she had been sick every day.

The New Yorker

He would be what was left of the soufflé after the cat had been sick.

Independent

Gilbert did not know his granddaughter had been sick a day.

The New Yorker

That first winter in the farmhouse every one had been sick.

The New Yorker

Tepco said Monday that Mr. Shimizu had been sick but has since returned to work.

The New York Times

My mother had been sick for a long time," she said.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been sick", ensure the context clearly establishes a past perfect timeline, indicating the illness occurred before another past event. For instance, "She had been sick for a week before she saw a doctor."

Common error

Avoid using "had been sick" when the simple past tense ("was sick") is sufficient. Use "had been sick" only when indicating that the illness preceded another past action or state.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been sick" functions as a past perfect continuous verb phrase. It describes a state of illness that existed before another point in the past. Ludwig AI's examples confirm this usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been sick" is a grammatically sound and frequently used phrase to indicate a past state of illness preceding another past event. As affirmed by Ludwig AI, its usage is versatile, fitting both formal and informal contexts, predominantly in News & Media and Scientific domains. When writing, ensure you use the correct tense. Consider alternatives like "was ill" or "suffered from" for nuanced expression. This comprehensive analysis ensures clarity and accuracy in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was ill

Simple past tense indicating a state of illness at a specific time.

was unwell

A more general term for not being in good health.

suffered from

Implies a prolonged or significant period of illness.

battled an illness

Indicates a struggle against a disease or ailment.

experienced sickness

A formal way to describe the occurrence of illness.

had a disease

Refers to having a specific diagnosed condition.

contracted an ailment

Implies catching an illness or disease.

was afflicted with

Suggests being severely affected by an illness.

labored under a condition

Indicates struggling with the effects of an illness.

endured a malady

A formal and somewhat archaic way to describe suffering from an illness.

FAQs

How do I correctly use "had been sick" in a sentence?

Use "had been sick" to describe an illness that occurred before another event in the past. For example, "He "had been sick" for a week before he went to the hospital."

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

"Was sick" describes a state of illness at a specific point in the past, while ""had been sick"" indicates that the illness occurred before another past event. The past perfect tense is important to correctly express the sequence of events.

What are some alternative phrases for "had been sick"?

Alternatives include /s/was+ill, /s/was+unwell, or /s/suffered+from depending on the context. Ensure the alternative maintains the intended meaning and fits the sentence's timeline.

Is "had been sick" formal or informal?

"Had been sick" is generally neutral and can be used in both formal and informal contexts. The specific context and surrounding language will further determine the overall formality.