had sometimes been

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had sometimes been" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action or state that occurred occasionally in the past before another past event. Example: "She had sometimes been late to meetings, but she always made up for it with her hard work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

Or ill-tempered and underachieving, as he had sometimes been at major tournaments?

The New York Times - Sports

The regret of Pius was that he had sometimes been too lenient.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The companions he had sometimes been seen with earlier in the year had disappeared.

The New York Times

He had sometimes been envious of what was possible at Apple.

The New Yorker

At home he had sometimes been billed as "England's Art Tatum" or "England's Teddy Wilson".

The New York Times - Arts

In Britain, the good name of human rights had sometimes been "distorted and devalued", he said.

The Guardian

I felt better knowing that Matisse had sometimes been rained out in Nice, too.

The New York Times - Travel

It seemed completely impossible; Christine had sometimes been moody, but had never seemed remotely unstable.

The New Yorker

He confirmed a story in the news magazine L'Express that he had sometimes been forced to sleep in his car.

Independent

It had sometimes been said that the only way to unseat Carrasco would be to murder her.

The Guardian

Mr. Trump's companies had sometimes been able to retire debt at a discount because creditors feared they might default.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had sometimes been" to describe actions or states that occurred irregularly in the past before a specific point in the past. For example, "Before the promotion, he "had sometimes been" late, but after, he was always on time."

Common error

Avoid using "has sometimes been" when referring to a completed action in the past. "Had" indicates a past perfect tense, so ensure the context aligns with an event completed before another past event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had sometimes been" functions as an auxiliary verb phrase indicating a past perfect tense with an adverb of frequency. It describes actions or states that occurred occasionally before a specific point in the past. As Ludwig AI indicates, the phrase is grammatically correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

82%

Encyclopedias

7%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had sometimes been" is a grammatically sound and frequently used construction for describing actions or states that occurred occasionally in the past prior to another past event. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is correct and adaptable across numerous writing styles. While extremely common in news and media contexts, ensure accurate tense usage to avoid misinterpretations. Remember, use alternatives like "had occasionally been" or "had at times been" for nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had occasionally been

Replaces "sometimes" with "occasionally", indicating a less frequent occurrence.

had at times been

Uses "at times" instead of "sometimes", offering a slightly more formal tone.

had on occasion been

Substitutes "sometimes" with "on occasion", indicating specific instances rather than general frequency.

had from time to time been

Uses "from time to time" for a more elaborate expression of occasional occurrence.

had been known to be

Shifts the focus to the known or recognized state rather than the frequency of occurrence.

had now and then been

Replaces "sometimes" with "now and then", suggesting infrequent occurrences.

had been wont to be

Employs "wont to be", suggesting a habitual tendency in the past (more archaic).

used to sometimes be

Introduces "used to" to indicate a past habit combined with occasional occurrence.

would sometimes be

Utilizes "would" to express a past habit or tendency with occasional instances.

had been intermittently

Focuses on the intermittent nature of the occurrence rather than its frequency.

FAQs

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

Use "had sometimes been" to indicate that an action or state occurred occasionally in the past before another point in the past. For example, "She "had sometimes been" unsure of her decisions, but she always persevered."

What are some alternatives to "had sometimes been"?

You can use alternatives like "had occasionally been", "had at times been", or "had been known to be" depending on the context.

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

Using "has sometimes been" indicates the action is still possibly occurring in the present, while "had sometimes been" refers to a completed action in the past before another point in the past. The correct choice depends on the intended meaning.

What's the difference between "had sometimes been" and "used to be sometimes"?

"Had sometimes been" indicates occasional occurrences before a specific past event, while "used to be sometimes" (though less common and somewhat awkward) suggests a past habit with occasional instances. "Had sometimes been" is generally clearer and more concise.