had almost given

USAGE SUMMARY

In written English "had almost given" is considered correct and is commonly used in different tenses.
For example: I had almost given up on finding a solution until I came across an unexpected answer.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

The Guardian

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I had almost given up on it.

The New York Times

He had almost given up science for a career as a television journalist.

The New York Times

Mario Götze had almost given Dortmund an early lead, hitting the post in the ninth minute.

The Guardian - Sport

In Queensland in particular, Hanson preferences helped Labor gain seats they had almost given up on.

The Guardian

She had almost given up speech, for her voice scratched and whistled oddly in her petrifying larynx.

The New Yorker

I had almost given up mussels, I was so tired of the wizened ones served at so many other places.

The New York Times

He would cry on the field at the end, acknowledging that he had almost given up hope.

The Guardian - Sport

Two years ago he was homeless and had almost given up hope of ever finding full-time work.

The Guardian

The couple had almost given up when their broker in West Stockbridge told them about land for sale in Richmond.

The New York Times - Travel

But I really doubt that he would have done it in 1945 when the enemy had almost given up and had absolutely no chance to reverse the trend.

The New York Times

Jean, meanwhile, wrote to de la Condamine: "I again met with a cherished wife, whom I had almost given over every hope of seeing again".

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had almost given" to convey a sense of near defeat or abandonment, highlighting the possibility that something was close to being lost or relinquished.

Common error

Avoid using "had almost given" when you intend to express a current or future possibility. This phrase is specific to past scenarios where the action of giving up was narrowly avoided.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had almost given" functions as a past perfect construction indicating a state or action that was very close to completion in the past but ultimately did not occur. Ludwig AI confirms that this phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

The Guardian

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Wiki

3%

Science

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had almost given" is a versatile past perfect construction used to describe situations where someone was on the brink of giving up. It is grammatically sound and widely used in various contexts, as validated by Ludwig AI. The phrase is most frequently found in news and media sources. While "had almost given" conveys a sense of near defeat, it's essential to use it appropriately to maintain clarity and impact. To enhance your writing, remember to use "had almost given" to express a sense of near defeat or abandonment. Be mindful to use other related phrases such as "had nearly relinquished" or "was on the verge of abandoning" depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had nearly relinquished

Replaces "almost" with "nearly", indicating a very close state of giving up.

had practically abandoned

Emphasizes the act of leaving something behind, close to giving up.

had all but surrendered

Suggests a complete giving up, only lacking the final act.

was on the verge of abandoning

Highlights the imminence of giving up, focusing on the state of nearing the decision.

had come close to forfeiting

Implies a loss as a consequence of giving up, adding a nuance of potential loss.

had been about to concede

Focuses on admitting defeat or giving way, slightly shifting the context to acceptance.

had contemplated forsaking

Emphasizes a deep consideration of abandoning something important.

had entertained the idea of quitting

Indicates that one thought about quitting.

had considered ceasing

Highlights the possibility of stopping completely.

had thought about abdicating

Emphasizes a formal renunciation, often of power or responsibility.

FAQs

How can I use "had almost given" in a sentence?

You can use "had almost given" to describe a situation where someone was close to giving up on something in the past. For example, "He "had almost given" up hope of finding his lost dog before it was found".

What phrases are similar to "had almost given"?

Similar phrases include "had nearly relinquished", "had practically abandoned", and "was on the verge of abandoning". These phrases convey a similar sense of being close to giving up.

Is it correct to say "has almost given" instead of "had almost given"?

The correct tense depends on the context. "Has almost given" implies a present perfect tense, meaning the giving up is close to happening now or has recently occurred. "Had almost given" refers to a point in the past where the action of giving up was nearly completed but didn't happen.

What's the difference between "had almost given" and "had completely given"?

"Had almost given" means that the action of giving up was close to happening but ultimately didn't. "Had completely given" means that the action of giving up was fully carried out and completed.