had been thrown

USAGE SUMMARY

"had been thrown" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is in the past perfect tense, which is used to describe a past event that took place before another past event. For example, "The ball had been thrown before the dog could catch it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Plates had been thrown.

The Guardian

According to police, it had been thrown against a wall.

Cornell University

A sucker punch had been thrown.

The Guardian - Sport

The gauntlet had been thrown down.

The Guardian - Sport

A young woman's life and body had been thrown away.

The New York Times - Science

But he had been thrown by "Dr. Devlin".

The New Yorker

It was like a switch had been thrown.

The New York Times - Food

But what if one stone had been thrown?

The New York Times

They had been thrown among the foaming rocks.

The Guardian

The driver had been thrown into the road.

The Guardian - Film

The car's heavy radiator had been thrown into the front.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been thrown" to clearly establish that an action of throwing occurred before another event in the past. This helps maintain a clear chronological order in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using the simple past tense ("was thrown") when you need to emphasize that the throwing action happened before another past event. "Had been thrown" clarifies the sequence of events.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been thrown" functions as a past perfect passive construction. It indicates that an action of throwing was completed before another point in the past, with the subject of the sentence receiving the action. Ludwig's examples show how it establishes a clear sequence of past events.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Academia

30%

Science

6%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had been thrown" is a grammatically sound and frequently used past perfect passive construction. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to denote that an action of throwing occurred and was completed before another event in the past. This phrase is common across diverse contexts, prominently in News & Media and Academia. When using "had been thrown", ensure that you want to emphasize the sequence of past actions and the passive role of the subject. Alternatives like "was cast" or "was hurled" exist, but they may not convey the precise timing as effectively. Understanding this nuanced usage helps clarify your writing and ensures accurate communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was cast

Focuses more on the action of casting or directing something, implying a deliberate act of throwing.

was tossed

A more casual and less forceful version of "thrown".

was hurled

Conveys a violent and forceful act of throwing.

was ejected

Implies a forceful removal or expulsion from a contained space or situation.

was propelled

Similar to "launched", but emphasizes the force causing the movement.

was heaved

Implies throwing something with great effort and force.

was launched

Conveys a sense of propelling something with force, often in a specific direction.

was discarded

Highlights the act of getting rid of something unwanted, suggesting it was thrown away.

was banished

Implies a formal expulsion or removal from a place or community.

was relegated

Suggests a demotion or assignment to a lower position or status.

FAQs

How to use "had been thrown" in a sentence?

"Had been thrown" indicates an action of throwing that was completed before another action in the past. For example, "The ball "had been thrown" before the batter swung the bat."

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

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "was cast", "was ejected", or "was hurled" to convey a similar meaning. However, ""had been thrown"" specifically emphasizes the completion of the throwing action before another past event.

Which is correct, "had been thrown" or "was thrown"?

Both ""had been thrown"" and "was thrown" are grammatically correct, but they indicate different time relationships. Use "had been thrown" when the throwing action occurred before another action in the past. Use "was thrown" for a simple past action.

What's the difference between "had been thrown" and "had thrown"?

"Had been thrown" is in the passive voice, indicating that the subject received the action. "Had thrown" is in the active voice, indicating that the subject performed the action. For example, "The evidence had been thrown away" (passive) versus "He had thrown the evidence away" (active).