had adjusted

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had adjusted" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that an adjustment was made in the past before another past event. Example: "By the time the meeting started, she had adjusted her presentation to better fit the audience's needs."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Sports

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Cone meant that he had adjusted to warming up quickly.

The New York Times - Sports

But they insisted they had adjusted to their new state.

The New York Times

And at each visit Mayer had adjusted the medications.

The New York Times - Magazine

Müller had adjusted his body weight on the hoof, then brilliantly threaded the ball home.

The Guardian - Sport

They had adjusted to their parents' divorce and to their father's remarriage.

The New York Times - Sports

Both caddies said the players had adjusted their games in the deluge.

The New York Times - Sports

He had disrupted her life, thrown her into turmoil, but he had adjusted perfectly.

The New Yorker

Only after buying the building in October did he learn that the state planners had adjusted their maps.

The New York Times

Seo said he did not like feeling bloated when he pitched, though he emphasized that he had adjusted.

The New York Times - Sports

Among other fixes, the restoration had adjusted color and removed the vertical "bounce" that affects most old reels of film.

The New Yorker

Both banks said they had adjusted their compensation to put more emphasis on long-term success.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had adjusted", ensure it clearly indicates a past action completed before another point in the past. This helps to establish a clear sequence of events.

Common error

Avoid using "had adjusted" when a simple past tense ("adjusted") is sufficient. The past perfect tense is necessary only when indicating an action completed before another action in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had adjusted" functions as a past perfect verb phrase. It indicates an action of adjusting or modifying that was completed before another action or time in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable nature.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

54%

Science

24%

Sports

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Encyclopedias

4%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had adjusted" is a grammatically sound and frequently used past perfect verb phrase employed to indicate a completed action of adjusting or modifying before another point in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's appropriate for various contexts, especially in news media, science and sports, signaling a clear sequence of events. When writing, ensure correct tense sequencing to avoid common errors, and consider alternatives like "had adapted" or "had modified" to add nuance to your expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had adapted

Focuses more on the process of becoming suitable for new conditions.

had modified

Emphasizes a change made to something, often to improve it.

had altered

Highlights a change in form or character, sometimes subtle.

had revised

Implies a more formal or thorough correction or improvement.

had amended

Suggests a formal change, often in a legal or official context.

had calibrated

Implies precise adjustment, often in a technical or scientific context.

had fine-tuned

Suggests making small adjustments to achieve optimal performance.

had recalibrated

Suggests re-adjusting or re-configuring something.

had converted

Emphasizes the transformation into a different form or system.

had transformed

Implies a significant and dramatic change.

FAQs

How to use "had adjusted" in a sentence?

Use "had adjusted" to describe an action that was completed before another action in the past. For example, "By the time the meeting started, she "had adjusted" her presentation."

What can I say instead of "had adjusted"?

You can use alternatives like "had adapted", "had modified", or "had altered" depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "had adjusted" or "adjusted"?

"Had adjusted" is the past perfect tense, used when the action happened before another action in the past. "Adjusted" is simple past tense. For example, "She "had adjusted" the settings before the technician arrived" versus "She adjusted the settings yesterday".

What's the difference between "had adapted" and "had adjusted"?

"Had adjusted" implies making a change to something, while "had adapted" suggests becoming suitable to new conditions. The choice depends on whether you're emphasizing the change made or the process of becoming suitable.