had forever been

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had forever been" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a continuous state or condition that existed up until a certain point in the past. Example: "She felt that she had forever been waiting for this moment to arrive."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The reserve clause had forever been the tie that bound players to their teams, whether they liked it or not.

The New York Times - Sports

Even as a child, she had cultivated hurtful friendships, had forever been suffering slights or neglect or flat-out cruelty, this girl like a loyal beaten dog.

The New Yorker

But as Mr. Obama delivered his remarks and the crowds continued to gather outside the White House, there was little question that his presidency had forever been changed by snaring Bin Laden.

The New York Times

"As long as he could remember, it had forever been America and always California, not the Texas of the cowboy movies or the glass canyons of New York, but Los Angeles, and eventually, of course, Hollywood". L.A. might have remained a distant fantasy for Saladin were it not for the violent events that open Laleh Khadivi's deeply affecting novel "The Walking," the second in a planned trilogy.

Los Angeles Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

That has forever been erased.

The New York Times - Health

Johnson has forever been the coolest kid in school.

The New York Times - Sports

It has forever been an animal mythic in my imagination.

The Guardian - Travel

Nevertheless, Mr. Feinstein added: "His reputation has forever been blemished".

The New York Times

Conspiratorial assumptions have forever been part of the N.B.A. landscape, along with stereotypes regarding its players.

The New York Times - Sports

The middle ground has forever been a few wins and survival without making too much fuss.

The Times

Sydney, where these latest acts of alleged sin are set, has forever been its moral home.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had forever been" to emphasize the unchanging nature of something over a significant period in the past, particularly when contrasting it with a current state or realization.

Common error

Avoid using "had forever been" when the simple past tense would suffice. Overusing it can make your writing sound unnecessarily verbose or dramatic. Simpler constructions are better: instead of "She felt she had forever been waiting", consider "She felt she had waited a long time".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had forever been" functions as part of a past perfect continuous construction, emphasizing the duration and continuous nature of a state or action leading up to a specific point in the past. Ludwig confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had forever been" is grammatically correct and used to express a continuous state or action that existed for a prolonged time up to a specific point in the past. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is correctly used in reliable sources. While its usage isn't widespread, it's most commonly found in news and media contexts. For clearer and more direct writing, consider alternatives like "had always been" or "had long been". Though grammatically correct, overusing this construction might make your writing sound overly verbose.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had always been

Replaces "forever" with "always", offering a more common and direct way to express continuous existence.

had continuously been

Emphasizes the uninterrupted nature of the state's existence over a long period.

had constantly been

Similar to "continuously", this option underscores the lack of interruption or change.

had perpetually been

Substitutes "forever" with "perpetually", increasing the sense of continuousness and potentially adding a more formal tone.

had eternally been

Replaces "forever" with "eternally", emphasizing the timeless and unending nature of the state.

had permanently been

Implies the state is fixed and unlikely to change, focusing on its lasting impact.

had consistently been

Focuses on the unwavering nature of the state, highlighting its persistence over time.

had invariably been

Highlights the unchanging and predictable nature of the state throughout the past.

had long been

Indicates the state has existed for a considerable duration, though not necessarily without end.

had for a long time been

Expresses that something has existed for an extended period, similar to 'had long been', but more explicit.

FAQs

How is "had forever been" different from "has always been"?

"Had forever been" describes a state that existed continuously up to a point in the past, whereas "has always been" describes a state that began in the past and continues to the present. "She felt her life "had forever been" defined by this event" focuses on her past feeling. "Her life "has always been" defined by this event" focuses on her present feeling.

When is it appropriate to use "had forever been"?

It is appropriate when you want to emphasize the long, continuous nature of something up to a specific point in the past, especially when that state is no longer true or is being contrasted with a new reality. For example, "Before the war, the city "had forever been" known for its beauty."

What are some alternatives to "had forever been" that are less emphatic?

If you want to convey a similar meaning without the strong emphasis, you can use alternatives like "had long been", "had always been", or simply use the past perfect tense with an adverbial phrase indicating duration, such as 'had been for a long time'.

Is "had forever been" considered formal or informal language?

The phrase tends to lean towards a more formal or literary register. It's suitable for writing where you want to create a sense of timelessness or enduring quality, but may sound overly dramatic in casual conversation.