having been sold

USAGE SUMMARY

"having been sold" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is a form of the verb "to be" (in past participle form) combined with a past tense participle (which is formed by adding -ed to a verb). You can use "having been sold" when you want to describe an action that occurred in the past. For example: "The house, having been sold twice before, was now back on the market." In this sentence, "having been sold" is used to show that the house was previously sold two times in the past before it was back on the market. Another example could be: "Having been sold out, the concert was a major success for the band." In this sentence, "having been sold out" indicates that all tickets for the concert were sold before the event, which contributed to the band's success.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

For me, the thrill of my book's having been sold outlasted my confusion over its classification.

The New York Times - Books

Second, I described the houses at the auction as having been sold.

The New York Times

Having been sold as a boon to local commerce, it has instead affected businesses negatively, Mr. Livecchi argued.

The New York Times

The store closed last week, having been sold to a franchise, a fate many shops in small towns are facing.

The New York Times

In response, the producer cancelled the show, even with a record $25 million in advance tickets having been sold.

The New York Times

Having been sold by Colt Industries in 1989, the Colt Firearms Division was reconstituted as Colt's Manufacturing Company.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Unite national officer Jennie Formby said the Cadbury workforce was shocked and angry at having been "sold out".

The Guardian - Business

Plenty of piles were razed to the ground, their Adam fittings and Zoffany portraits already having been sold off.

The Guardian - Books

But within a few years it, too, had in effect disappeared, its customers having been sold first to Citigroup and then to Barclays and the Yorkshire Building Society.

The Economist

He begs his producers (played by Amy Poehler and Julie White) to let him cancel, but the ad slots already having been sold, the show must go on.

The New Yorker

Both at having been sold an unfinished programme then and at the pretence I was being offered anything much new now.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "having been sold" to clearly indicate that something was sold in the past, providing context for a subsequent event or current state. For example, "The company, having been sold to a foreign investor, underwent significant restructuring."

Common error

Avoid using "having been sold" when a simpler past perfect tense (had been sold) would suffice. Overusing the "having been" construction can make your writing sound unnecessarily complex. For example, instead of saying "The painting, having been sold for millions, was now in a private collection", consider "The painting, which had been sold for millions, was now in a private collection."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "having been sold" functions as a participial phrase, providing additional information about a noun or pronoun. It indicates a completed action in the past that has relevance to the main clause. As Ludwig AI states, this is a perfectly correct and usable phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Science

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "having been sold" is a grammatically sound and frequently used construction that serves to provide background information or explain the state of something as a result of a previous sale. It functions as a participial phrase and is widely found in news, encyclopedias, and wiki contexts. As indicated by Ludwig AI, the phrase is considered correct and usable. When writing, ensure you are using the phrase to add context and avoid overusing it in place of simpler past perfect tenses. Alternatives such as "after the sale" or "once it was sold" can be used to add variety.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the sale having taken place

A more verbose and emphatic way of saying "having been sold".

upon completion of the sale

Highlights the moment the sale is finalized.

following its sale

Similar to "after the sale", but more concise and formal.

once it was sold

Emphasizes the point in time when the sale occurred.

with the transaction completed

Highlights the completion of the selling process.

subsequent to the sale

A more formal alternative to "after the sale".

after the sale

Focuses on the period following the act of selling, rather than the state of being sold.

after being purchased

Emphasizes the buyer's perspective rather than the seller's.

once ownership was transferred

Focuses on the transfer of ownership as a result of the sale.

post-sale

A shorter, more direct way of saying after the sale.

FAQs

How can I use "having been sold" in a sentence?

Use "having been sold" to describe something that was sold at an earlier time, providing context for a later action or state. For example, "Having been sold to a new owner, the restaurant changed its menu."

What are some alternatives to "having been sold"?

You can use alternatives like "after the sale", "once it was sold", or "following its sale" depending on the specific context.

Is it correct to say "having been selling" instead of "having been sold"?

No, "having been selling" implies an ongoing process of selling, while "having been sold" indicates a completed transaction.

What's the difference between "having been sold" and "was sold"?

"Having been sold" often introduces a clause that provides background information or explains a consequence of the sale, while "was sold" is a simple statement of a past event.