had allowed

USAGE SUMMARY

"had allowed" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is past perfect tense, which is used to describe an action that happened before another action in the past. Example: My parents had allowed me to go on the trip before I even asked.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

Suppose Dom had allowed that journey.

The New Yorker

Many companies had allowed much more.

The New York Times

Sure, we had allowed a goal.

The New York Times - Sports

And I had allowed it.

The New York Times - Health

Brodeur had allowed 30 goals, Belfour 31.

The New York Times - Sports

Oracle had allowed its offer to expire.

The New York Times - Tech

He had allowed five earned runs and walked four batters.

The New York Times - Sports

Bligh had allowed female guests on the ship.

The New Yorker

It was only the third hit Hughes had allowed.

The New York Times - Sports

agents had allowed guns to be smuggled across the border.

The New York Times

I had allowed myself to slouch in my seat.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had allowed", ensure the context clearly establishes the sequence of past events, making it evident which action occurred before the other.

Common error

Avoid using "had allowed" when simple past tense ("allowed") is sufficient. "Had allowed" is specifically for indicating an action completed before another action in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had allowed" functions as a past perfect verb phrase. It indicates that an action of permitting or enabling occurred before another action or time in the past. Ludwig provides many examples, demonstrating its use in various contexts to establish a sequence of past events.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

79%

Science

11%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had allowed" is a past perfect verb phrase used to indicate that an action of permitting or enabling occurred before another action in the past. Ludwig AI confirms it is grammatically correct and provides numerous examples across various source types, primarily in news and media. It serves to express a prior condition or enablement, often setting the stage for subsequent events. Remember to use it when emphasizing the sequence of past actions and avoid using it when simple past tense is sufficient. Alternatives like "had permitted", "had let", and "had enabled" can be used depending on the specific nuance you wish to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had permitted

Direct synonym, implying formal or explicit permission.

had let

More informal synonym, suggesting a lack of resistance.

had enabled

Focuses on providing the means or opportunity for something.

had authorized

Implies official approval or sanction.

had given leave

Formal and somewhat archaic, indicating explicit permission.

had granted

Suggests bestowing a privilege or right.

had tolerated

Implies acceptance of something undesirable without intervention.

had suffered

Suggests allowing something to happen by not preventing it.

had accommodated

Implies making room or provision for something.

had facilitated

Focuses on making a process or action easier.

FAQs

How is "had allowed" used in a sentence?

"Had allowed" is used to show that an action of allowing happened before another action in the past. For example: "The school had allowed students to leave early because of the storm."

What are some alternatives to "had allowed"?

You can use alternatives like "had permitted", "had let", or "had enabled" depending on the context.

When should I use "had allowed" versus "allowed"?

Use "had allowed" when you need to emphasize that the act of allowing occurred before another past action. Use "allowed" for simple past tense when indicating a single event in the past.

Is it correct to say "has allowed" instead of "had allowed"?

No, "has allowed" is present perfect tense and indicates an action that started in the past and continues to the present or has relevance to the present. "Had allowed" is past perfect and refers to a completed action before another point in the past. You would use "has allowed" in a sentence like "The new policy has allowed for greater flexibility."