had were given

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had were given" is not correct and cannot be used in written English.
It appears to be a combination of two different verb forms that do not work together grammatically. Example: "They had been given the opportunity to speak."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"The promotions I should have had, the jobs I should have had, were given to men," one plaintiff, Stephanie Odle, said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

They had been given to her….

The New Yorker

He said they had been given summonses.

The New York Times

I had been given a do-over.

The New Yorker

He had been given 12 ODIs.

The Guardian - Sport

A grill he had been given.

The Washington Post

The lures had been given different treatments.

Science Magazine

Over half had been given no diagnosis.

The Journal of Headache and Pain

He had been given asylum in Australia.

BBC

There, no penalty had been given.

Wikipedia

She had been given so many painkillers.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct form of the verb "to be" with past participles. Use "had been given" for past perfect passive voice and "were given" for simple past passive voice.

Common error

Avoid using "had were given". The correct phrasing should be either "had been given" or "were given", depending on the intended tense and voice.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had were given" is an incorrect verb phrase. It attempts to combine the past perfect auxiliary "had" with the past tense plural form of "to be", "were", which is grammatically incompatible. Ludwig AI indicates its incorrectness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Less common in

Science

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News & Media

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Formal & Business

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had were given" is grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI confirms, it incorrectly combines verb forms. The correct alternatives are "had been given" (past perfect passive) or "were given" (simple past passive). Because the phrase is ungrammatical and rarely occurs, it's unsuitable for any formal writing context. To ensure clarity and grammatical accuracy, always use the appropriate verb conjugation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had been given

Uses the correct past perfect passive construction, indicating something was received.

were given

Employs the correct simple past passive voice.

had received

Uses active voice to indicate something was obtained or granted.

were provided

Similar to "were given", but implies a more formal or structured offering.

had obtained

Another active voice construction, suggesting effort in acquiring something.

had been granted

Uses a more formal tone, implying official permission or approval.

were allocated

Suggests a specific amount or portion was designated for someone or something.

had been awarded

Indicates a prize, honor, or recognition was bestowed.

were assigned

Suggests a task, duty, or responsibility was given to someone.

had possession of

Indicates ownership or control over something.

FAQs

How can I correct the phrase "had were given"?

The phrase "had were given" is grammatically incorrect. The correct forms are "had been given" (past perfect passive) or "were given" (simple past passive).

What is the difference between "had been given" and "were given"?

"Had been given" indicates something was given in the past before another past action (past perfect), while "were given" indicates something was given in the simple past.

When should I use the passive voice with "given"?

Use the passive voice with "given" when the action is more important than the actor, or when the actor is unknown or unimportant. For example, "The instructions were given clearly".

What are some alternative ways to express that something was given?

Alternatives include "had received", "were provided", or "had been granted", depending on the context and nuance you want to convey.