had still been

USAGE SUMMARY

"had still been" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to a continuing state or situation that existed in the past up until a certain point in time. For example: "I had still been living in my childhood home until I moved away for college."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Robby had still been home then.

The New Yorker

I realized that although her eyes had been open that night, she had still been asleep.

The New Yorker

Helen's children had still been small when the Smiths moved away; Carrie had hardly known them.

The New Yorker

I wouldn't have been in the team at all if Botham had still been skipper.

Independent

Imagine if Ed Miliband and Ed Balls had still been in power.

The Economist

If visual inspection had still been the standard, Patiño's gender never would have been questioned.

The New Yorker

Just 69, he had still been working part-time as an opinion research executive.

The New York Times

She said she had still been trying to get through after the tickets had sold out.

The Guardian

If only Bob had still been there, to talk me down.

The Guardian - Books

The commentators felt for Nixie but it had still been a great day out.

The Guardian - Sport

Nasa said it believed the spacewalk had still been a success.

The Telegraph

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had still been" to emphasize that a situation continued up to a specific point in the past, especially when that continuation is unexpected or relevant to a subsequent event.

Common error

Avoid using "had still been" when a simple past tense ("was still") is sufficient. Overusing the past perfect can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had still been" functions as an auxiliary verb phrase indicating a state or action that continued up to a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms that it is correct and usable in written English to refer to a continuing situation in the past.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Science

12%

Wiki

4%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had still been" is a grammatically correct auxiliary verb phrase that emphasizes the continuation of a state or action up to a specific point in the past. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it is commonly used in various contexts, particularly in news and media, as well as in scientific writing. While it is a versatile phrase, it's important to avoid overuse and ensure that the context warrants the emphasis it provides. Alternative phrases like "was still" or "remained" can be used when less emphasis is needed. By understanding its function and purpose, writers can effectively use "had still been" to add clarity and depth to their writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had continued being

It emphasizes the ongoing action with an additional layer of past tense, marking continuation before another event.

was still

This alternative uses a simpler tense to express a continuing state, omitting the 'had been' for less emphasis on completion before another past action.

was yet

This phrase emphasizes that something was in a particular state up to a point, similar to 'still', focusing on a negative expectation that was not met.

continued to be

This alternative emphasizes the ongoing nature of a state or condition, highlighting its persistence over time.

remained

This choice suggests that a subject stayed in a particular condition or place, which is typically more static than "had still been".

persisted in being

This suggests a more determined or stubborn continuation of a state or action, adding a nuance of intent or resistance.

was even then

This alternative emphasizes the unexpected nature of the continuation, adding a sense of surprise.

was at that time

It sets a specific timeframe in the past, clarifying when the state was occurring.

had been ongoing

This alternative underscores the continuation of the action or state but doesn't necessarily imply it continued up to a specific point.

had not ceased to be

This implies a negative view where something was expected to end but didn't, adding a layer of surprise or resistance.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "had still been" in a sentence?

You can replace "had still been" with phrases like "was still", "continued to be", or "remained" depending on the context.

Is there a difference between "was still" and "had still been"?

Yes, "had still been" implies a state that continued up to a specific point in the past and often relates to a subsequent event. "Was still" simply indicates a continuing state in the past. Example: "He had still been working there when the company went bankrupt" vs. "He was still working there last year".

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

Use "had still been" when you want to emphasize that a state or action continued until a particular moment in the past, especially when it contrasts with what happened next or what was expected.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when using "had still been"?

A common mistake is using "had still been" when the simple past tense ("was still") is adequate. Overusing the past perfect can make the sentence unnecessarily complex. Also, ensure that the context clearly indicates a shift or change following the state described by "had still been".