had been summoned

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been summoned" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone was called or requested to appear at a certain place or event in the past. Example: "The witnesses had been summoned to testify in court regarding the case."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

They had been summoned by a company-wide e-mail.

The Economist

Monday knowing he had been summoned to the executive offices.

The New York Times - Sports

It said 78 "suspicious people" had been summoned for questioning.

The Guardian

They had been summoned by the endangered moon: I was certain of that.

The New Yorker

It said members had been summoned, but it did not reveal by whom.

The Economist

He said that state environmental experts had been summoned to determine if dangerous chemicals were released.

The New York Times

Within 48 hours Alaa had been summoned to the military prosecutor.

The Guardian - Opinion

He said no one from Reuters had been summoned for questioning.

The Guardian

It was as if Larry Summers had been summoned to rescue the Redskins from Dan Snyder.

The New Yorker

Officers had been summoned to quell a domestic dispute with the mother of his infant child.

The New York Times - Sports

I learned this from friends who had been summoned to the ministry".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been summoned" when you want to convey a sense of formality or obligation in the invitation or request. It is especially useful in legal or official contexts.

Common error

Avoid using "was summoned" when the action happened over a period of time or before another action in the past. Instead, use "had been summoned" to maintain correct past perfect tense.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been summoned" functions as a passive perfect construction, indicating that the subject received a summons or formal request prior to a specific point in the past. This emphasizes the completed action of being called or requested.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

85%

Science

8%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been summoned" is a grammatically sound and frequently used construction to indicate that someone was formally requested or ordered to appear at a certain place or event prior to a point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. Predominantly found in news and media contexts, the phrase carries a neutral to formal tone. For alternative phrasing, consider options like "had been called" or "had been requested to appear", depending on the context. When using the phrase, ensure correct tense usage to avoid common errors. The phrase appears frequently in authoritative sources like The New York Times and The Guardian.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been called

Replaces "summoned" with a more general term for being asked to come.

had been requested to appear

Specifies that the request was to appear in person.

had been asked to attend

Focuses on the act of attending a meeting or event.

had received a summons

Uses the noun form of "summon", implying a formal request.

had been invited to present themselves

Emphasizes the act of presenting oneself at a location.

had been directed to report

Suggests a more formal or mandatory instruction.

had been commanded to appear

Implies a higher authority giving an order.

had been required to be present

Highlights the necessity of being at a certain place.

had been subpoenaed

Specifically refers to a legal obligation to appear.

had been officially requested

Indicates a formal request, often by an organization.

FAQs

What does "had been summoned" mean?

The phrase "had been summoned" means that someone received a formal request or order to appear at a specific place or event. It implies that the summoning occurred before a certain point in the past.

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

Use "had been summoned" when you're referring to an action that was completed before another point in the past. Use "was summoned" when referring to a single action in the past.

What are some alternatives to "had been summoned"?

You can use alternatives like "had been called", "had been requested to appear", or "had been invited" depending on the context.

Is "had been summoned" formal or informal?

The phrase "had been summoned" is generally considered formal. It's often used in official or legal contexts, but can also appear in news reports or other formal writing.