had been tortured

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had been tortured" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a past event where someone experienced torture, often in a narrative or report about human rights abuses or personal accounts. Example: "The survivor recounted the harrowing details of how he had been tortured during his imprisonment."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Some had been tortured.

The Economist

He had been tortured.

The Economist

Many of the dead had been tortured.

The Economist

He had been tortured before being shot.

The Economist

"I knew that he had been tortured.

The New Yorker

Others had been tortured, but he wasn't.

The New Yorker

According to investigators, he had been tortured.

The Guardian

He had been tortured and shot, she said, weeping.

The New York Times - Health

The pathologist said he had been "tortured to death".

The Economist

He said he had been tortured into a confession.

Independent

He had been tortured and shot in the head.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had been tortured" when you need to emphasize that the torture occurred before another point in the past. For instance, "He was eventually released after four years and said that he "had been tortured".

Common error

Avoid replacing the passive voice construction of "had been tortured" with an active construction when the actor is unknown or irrelevant. For example, instead of saying "Someone had tortured him", using "he "had been tortured"" emphasizes his experience, not the perpetrator.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had been tortured" functions as a passive past perfect construction, indicating that the action of torturing was completed before a specific point in the past. As Ludwig AI indicates, this phrase is considered correct and usable in written English. The phrase is typically used in narrative or reporting contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had been tortured" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression, particularly in news and media contexts. As Ludwig AI confirms, it serves to describe a past event of torture that occurred before another point in the past. When writing, consider alternatives like "had suffered torture" or "was subjected to torture" for variety, and ensure the passive voice construction fits the context. Avoid active voice constructions if the perpetrator is unknown or unimportant. Overall, the phrase is effective in conveying the experience of torture within a narrative or report.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had suffered torture

Replaces "been tortured" with "suffered torture", emphasizing the act of enduring torture.

had endured torture

Substitutes "been tortured" with "endured torture", highlighting the perseverance through the torture.

was subjected to torture

Replaces the passive voice construction with a more direct statement of being acted upon.

experienced torture

Focuses on the personal experience of torture, rather than the passive construction.

had undergone torture

Emphasizes the process of going through torture.

was brutalized

Uses a single word to convey the severity of the torture.

had been mistreated

Generalizes the type of abuse, replacing "tortured" with a broader term.

had been abused

Similar to "mistreated", but with a stronger connotation of harm.

suffered inhumane treatment

Highlights the lack of humanity in the treatment received.

was inhumanely treated

Similar to "suffered inhumane treatment" but changes the structure to be a past form.

FAQs

How can I use "had been tortured" in a sentence?

Use "had been tortured" to describe a past event where someone experienced torture before another event in the past. Example: "The victim revealed that he "had been tortured" during interrogation".

What are some alternatives to "had been tortured"?

You can use alternatives like "had suffered torture", "had endured torture", or "was subjected to torture", depending on the specific context.

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

Both are grammatically correct, but they imply different time frames. "Was tortured" describes an event that occurred at a specific point in the past, while "had been tortured" indicates the torture occurred before another point in the past. Choose the one that best fits the timeline of your narrative.

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

"Had been tortured" indicates that the torture was completed before another past event, while "was being tortured" implies that the torture was ongoing at a specific time in the past. The correct choice depends on whether you want to emphasize the completion or the duration of the torture.