had been stopping

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been stopping" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to describe an action that was ongoing in the past and has since ceased, often in a context involving a change or interruption. Example: "He had been stopping by the café every morning before work, but now he prefers to make his coffee at home."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

13 human-written examples

The last five or six years, kids had been stopping at his desk.

The New Yorker

The resident also said protesters had been stopping cars and beating travelers.

The New York Times

She told me that Hanoi kids had been stopping by at night, long past closing, to have their picture taken.

The New Yorker

The Gaspee, in search of contraband, had been stopping every vessel entering and leaving Narragansett Bay, and John had had enough of it.

The New Yorker

He also suggested Hull had been "stopping the clock" as they dug in for a point that brought their four-match losing streak to an end and lifted them out of the relegation zone on goal difference.

Independent

Regulars at the Oasis, a restaurant in Juntura, Ore., said groups of travelers coming from Idaho had been stopping for food and gas on the way to Burns, where they hoped to lend support to the protesters.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

47 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

Andre insisted on knowing why we had been stopped.

The New York Times

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

The Guardian - Travel

She too said Salmond's advances had been stopped.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had been stopping", ensure the context clearly indicates that the action of stopping occurred repeatedly over a period of time in the past and has since ceased. For instance, "The bus had been stopping at every corner, but now it's taking a more direct route."

Common error

Avoid using "had been stopping" when you intend to describe a single, completed action in the past. Instead of "He had been stopping at the store yesterday", use "He stopped at the store yesterday."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been stopping" functions as a past perfect continuous verb phrase. It indicates an action that was in progress for a period of time before another point in the past. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had been stopping" is a grammatically sound and commonly used past perfect continuous verb phrase that describes an action in progress for a duration before a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and versatility. It’s prevalent in news, media, and scientific contexts. When writing, ensure the context clearly indicates a repeated action over time that has ceased. Be mindful of the tense and avoid using it for single, completed actions. Also, according to Ludwig, alternative options include "used to stop" or "regularly stopped".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

used to stop

Indicates a past habit or repeated action that is no longer occurring, focusing on the habitual nature of the stops.

would regularly stop

Implies a consistent pattern of stopping, similar to "had been stopping" but with a slightly different emphasis on regularity.

were in the habit of stopping

Emphasizes the habitual nature of stopping, highlighting it as a routine or custom.

stopped frequently

Focuses on the frequency of the stops, indicating that they happened often.

had a history of stopping

Highlights the past occurrences of stopping, suggesting a pattern over time.

were known for stopping

Suggests that the act of stopping was a notable or recognized characteristic.

had previously stopped

Highlights that stopping occurred before, indicating a change from a state of non-stopping.

were halting

A more formal synonym, replacing "stopping" with "halting" to convey a similar action of pausing or ceasing movement.

were pausing

Replaces "stopping" with "pausing," emphasizing a temporary cessation of movement or action.

were ceasing

Replaces "stopping" with "ceasing," which indicates a more formal and complete end to an action or movement.

FAQs

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

"Had been stopping" describes a continuous action in the past that has now ended. For example, "They "had been stopping" at that coffee shop every morning until it closed down.

What's a simple alternative to "had been stopping"?

Depending on the context, you could use "used to stop" or "regularly stopped" as simpler alternatives. For instance, "They "used to stop" at that coffee shop" conveys a similar meaning.

Is there a difference between "had been stopping" and "stopped"?

"Stopped" indicates a completed action at a specific point in the past. "Had been stopping" implies a repeated action over a period of time that has ended. "He "stopped" by the store" means he visited it once. "He "had been stopping" by the store" implies a regular habit that is no longer happening.

When should I use "had been stopping" instead of "was stopping"?

"Was stopping" describes an action in progress at a specific time in the past. "Had been stopping" describes a repeated or continuous action that occurred over a period in the past before another event or before the present. For example: "He was stopping at the light when the accident occurred" versus "He "had been stopping" at that light for years before they installed a camera".