had been stopped

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been stopped" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in the past perfect tense to indicate that an action was completed before another action in the past. Example: "The car had been stopped by the police before the driver attempted to flee."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

And he had been stopped before too.

The Guardian - Sport

Cumulatively, they said they had been stopped 92 times.

The New York Times

Some people didn't even realise it had been stopped.

The Guardian - Travel

Andre insisted on knowing why we had been stopped.

The New York Times

She too said Salmond's advances had been stopped.

The Guardian

Mr. Pagan said he had been stopped and frisked about five times before.

The New York Times

Ryan, who had been stopped by the police before, remained in place and displayed his hands.

The New Yorker

Administration officials replied that the so-called enhanced interrogations had been stopped, while drone strikes continue.

The New York Times

It was raining intensely, and the chopper service had been stopped.

The New York Times

"A mother was weeping because her son had been stopped earlier with friends.

The New Yorker

Once Rolling Stone had been stopped, the activists could return to fighting Bahati's bill.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To improve your writing, you can replace the phrase "had been stopped" with synonyms like "halted", "ceased", or "interrupted", ensuring the replacement aligns with the intended meaning and context.

Common error

Avoid using "had been stopped" when the simple past tense ("was stopped") is more appropriate. The past perfect tense emphasizes that the stopping action occurred before another event in the past. For example, don't say: "He had been stopped at the light and then he proceeded". Instead say: "He was stopped at the light and then he proceeded".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been stopped" functions as a past perfect passive construction. It indicates that an action of stopping was completed before another point in the past. Ludwig examples show it being used to describe events that were interrupted or terminated.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Science

20%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been stopped" is a grammatically correct and very common past perfect passive construction. Ludwig AI confirms its frequent usage in contexts where a past action was completed before another. It serves to communicate a sequence of past events, with a neutral register suitable for news, science, and general discourse. While alternatives like "had been halted" exist, understanding the specific nuance of past perfect tense is crucial for proper usage. By avoiding common tense errors and providing clear context, writers can effectively employ "had been stopped" to create coherent and informative narratives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been halted

This alternative offers a direct synonym, emphasizing the action of being brought to a standstill.

had been interrupted

This alternative implies a temporary cessation, suggesting a pause rather than a complete stop.

had been prevented

This focuses on the act of preventing something from happening or continuing.

had been blocked

This suggests an obstruction that hindered progress or movement.

had been terminated

This implies a complete and often formal ending.

had been ceased

This alternative means that an action or process has come to an end.

had been suspended

This suggests a temporary removal or interruption.

had been checked

This indicates that progress has been controlled or limited.

had been subdued

This implies being brought under control or suppressed.

had been suppressed

This indicates being forcibly put an end to.

FAQs

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

Use "had been stopped" to indicate that an action was completed before another action in the past. For example: "The game "had been stopped" due to the rain before the final inning could begin."

What are some alternatives to "had been stopped"?

You can use alternatives like "had been halted", "had been interrupted", or "had been prevented" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "was stopped" instead of "had been stopped"?

It depends on the context. "Was stopped" indicates a simple past action, while "had been stopped" indicates an action completed before another past action. Use "had been stopped" when you want to emphasize the sequence of past events.

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

"Had been stopped" indicates a completed action in the past before another past action, while "was being stopped" indicates an ongoing action in the past. For instance, "The parade "had been stopped" before I arrived" versus "The parade "was being stopped" as I arrived".