People DO put 'had' in front of past tense verbs:
 
"Bank of America, meanwhile, said it had made money during the first two months of the year."
 
"There, flashing at the top of the list, Eisen found exactly what he had expected: another note from one of President Obama's senior advisers."
 
In an effort to put 'had' in front of a past tense verb, people DO sometimes force the irregular past participle:
 
"Some of Bernard Madoff's victims came to Lower Manhattan on Thursday to catch a glimpse of the man who had taken away their life savings, robbing them of their kids' college funds and of their pride."
 
People DO use 'had been' where 'was' or 'were' belong:
 
"Benedict said his decision to welcome back to the church the ultraconservative Society of St. Pius X, to which the excommunicated bishop belongs, had been mishandled and 'not clearly and adequately explained".
 
The items above are from The Washington Post of Friday March 13, 2009.


      

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