had finally been

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had finally been" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used in past tense sentences to indicate that something happened after a prolonged or delayed period of time. Example: After waiting for three hours, the train had finally been announced as delayed.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The cast had finally been paid.

The New York Times

The smoking gun had finally been found.

Encyclopedia Britannica

"The plug had finally been pulled.

BBC

Justice had finally been done.

The Guardian - Opinion

The Government had finally been caught out.

The Guardian

Mingering Mike had finally been discovered!

The Guardian - Books

In truth my loyalty had finally been waning.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The body of Ms. Valoy had finally been found.

The New York Times

A fortified border fence had finally been finished.

The Guardian

Those Stanford brats had finally been taught a lesson.

The Guardian - Tech

It looked as if the answer had finally been found.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had finally been", ensure that the sentence clearly indicates the preceding events or circumstances that led to the final outcome. This provides context and emphasizes the significance of the completion.

Common error

Avoid using "had finally been" in sentences where the past perfect tense is not appropriate. This tense signifies an action completed before another point in the past. Ensure there is a clear chronological sequence of events.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had finally been" functions as an auxiliary verb phrase within a sentence, forming part of the past perfect passive voice. It indicates that an action was completed before another point in the past. As Ludwig AI suggests, it signals a prolonged or delayed period before something occurred.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had finally been" is a grammatically sound and frequently used construct that appears most often in News & Media. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in past tense sentences to denote events occurring after a delay. When employing this phrase, be sure to maintain the correct chronological context and use of the past perfect tense. Alternatives include phrases like "was eventually" or "was at long last", offering nuanced ways to express similar ideas. Avoiding tense misuse is crucial to ensure clarity. Remember, clarity and context are critical when employing "had finally been" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

was eventually

Focuses on the eventual nature of the event, emphasizing the end result after a period of time.

was at long last

Highlights the prolonged waiting period before the event occurred, adding emphasis to its arrival.

was ultimately

Emphasizes the finality and decisiveness of the event, presenting it as the conclusive outcome.

came to pass

Uses a more formal and literary tone to denote the occurrence of the event, shifting the register slightly.

transpired after all

Highlights the element of surprise or unexpectedness in the event's occurrence, shifting the emphasis.

materialized in the end

Focuses on the transformation from potential to reality, emphasizing the tangibility of the outcome.

was realized at last

Stresses the fulfillment or achievement of a goal after a period of anticipation, altering the focus.

was resolved once and for all

Emphasizes the conclusive nature of the resolution, highlighting the termination of uncertainty or conflict.

reached its conclusion

Focuses on the termination of a process or series of events, shifting the perspective from action to completion.

met its end

Stresses the ultimate endpoint or termination of something, adding a sense of finality and closure.

FAQs

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

Use "had finally been" to describe an action that was completed before another action in the past. For instance, "The project "had finally been completed" after months of hard work, just before the deadline."

What are some alternatives to "had finally been"?

Alternatives include "was eventually", "was at long last", or "was ultimately". The choice depends on the nuance you want to convey. For example, "The truth "was eventually revealed"" conveys a similar meaning to "The truth had finally been revealed".

Is it correct to say "has finally been" instead of "had finally been"?

No, "has finally been" is present perfect tense and implies the action is completed recently and has relevance to the present, whereas "had finally been" is past perfect, indicating completion before a point in the past. Choose the tense based on the time frame you are describing.

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

"Had finally been" indicates a completed action before another point in the past, while "was finally" simply indicates that an action occurred at some point in the past. For instance, "The decision "was finally made"" simply states that the decision was made, while "The decision "had finally been made" after weeks of debate" implies the decision preceded another event.