had not been fed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had not been fed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone or something has not received food at a specific point in the past. Example: "The stray dog had not been fed for days, and it looked weak and malnourished."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

Opening the case, Jeremy Richardson QC told the judge Tiffany died because she "simply had not been fed or given fluids".

The Guardian

Susan lay in an irreversible coma and had not been fed for 10 days; she was being kept alive solely by fluids.

The New York Times

"Let's say that during the short period when I was not playing, I was like a little caged lion who had not been fed for a while," he told French newspaper L'Equipe.

Independent

Immunohistochemistry of the renal PPAR-β/δ showed that expression was nearly ten times lower than both in young and healthy German Landswine and age-matched FBM pigs that had not been fed with the atherogenic diet (Figure  1).

Intensive Care Medicine Experimental

Moreover, tissue PPAR-β/δ expression in kidneys from adult FBM swine that had not been fed with cholesterol-enriched diet was similar to that in young and healthy German Landswine (Figure  1B).

Intensive Care Medicine Experimental

The latter was determined on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded kidney biopsies, which had been taken during surgical instrumentation both in FBM and young and healthy German Landswine in a previous study [15], as well as age-matched FBM pigs that had not been fed with the atherogenic diet (n = 5 in each group).

Intensive Care Medicine Experimental

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

46 human-written examples

On the other hand, such fine particles were not observed for individuals who had not been feeding sufficiently (Fig. 6b).

International Aquatic Research

However, we looked at glands from WT females which had not been feeding because their pups had been taken away and we didn't see any morphological difference with the mutant glands and the weights were similar in both groups (Figure 3c and 0.113±0.02 mg, p>0.05).

Plosone

Hull and Cawthen (2013) stated that five out of six killed bats had not been feeding, whereas only the sixth bat had insects in its intestinal tract.

Environmental Management

I only found out because the two older children came over here one day and told me their mother had not been feeding them.

BMC International Health and Human Rights

He hadn't been fed all day..

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had not been fed", ensure the context clearly indicates the specific time frame you're referring to. For instance, "The animals "had not been fed" for three days prior to the rescue."

Common error

Avoid using "had not been fed" when a simpler past tense like "was not fed" is sufficient, particularly if the time frame is already established.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had not been fed" functions as a passive perfect construction, indicating that the subject did not receive food prior to a specified time. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

50%

Wiki

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had not been fed" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to describe a past state of food deprivation before a certain point. As Ludwig AI confirms, its use is correct. It is most commonly found in news and media and scientific contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that the timeframe is clear. While alternatives exist, like "was not fed" or "had gone without food", the choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Remember to avoid using it when a simple past tense is more appropriate. With an expert rating of 4.5, this phrase demonstrates strong grammatical correctness and source authority.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hadn't eaten

A more concise and informal way of saying the same thing.

wasn't fed

Simple past tense passive voice.

had been left unfed

Highlights the state of being without food, often due to neglect.

was not given food

Focuses on the act of withholding food.

had lacked feeding

Emphasizes the absence of the process of feeding.

had gone without food

Emphasizes the duration of food absence.

had been deprived of nourishment

Highlights the lack of essential nutrients.

had been starved

Implies a more severe and prolonged lack of food.

had been without sustenance

Similar to 'had received no sustenance' but uses slightly different wording.

had received no sustenance

Emphasizes the absence of anything that sustains life.

FAQs

How can I use "had not been fed" in a sentence?

Use "had not been fed" to describe a situation where someone or something did not receive food before a specific point in the past. Example: "The stray dog "had not been fed" for days before it was rescued."

What's the difference between "was not fed" and "had not been fed"?

"Was not fed" describes a simple past event, while "had not been fed" indicates that the lack of feeding occurred before a specific time in the past. For example, "It was clear the animal was abused because it "was not fed"" versus "The animal died because it "had not been fed" for weeks."

What are some alternatives to "had not been fed"?

Alternatives include "was not given food", "had gone without food", or "had been deprived of nourishment" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "hadn't been fed" instead of "had not been fed"?

Yes, "hadn't been fed" is a contraction of "had not been fed" and is perfectly acceptable in both spoken and written English, especially in informal contexts.