had already sustained

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had already sustained" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has been experienced or endured prior to a certain point in time. Example: "By the time the investigation began, the company had already sustained significant financial losses due to the scandal."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

The image revealed that he had already sustained a break in the same spot.

The New York Times - Sports

The area around New Hope, Pa., had already sustained more than 12 inches of rain in the previous two weeks.

The New York Times

Considering that Moore probably had already sustained a broken neck, he could have been paralyzed or killed if teammates had not immobilized Bertuzzi.

The New York Times - Sports

This defiant statement came from a teenage girl who was forced to marry her paternal uncle before she turned 13, and had already sustained two bouts of one of the most demeaning female injuries: obstetric fistula.

The New York Times

A15 SPORTS D1-8 OBITUA29ES A29 FASHION B8 NATIONAL A16-28 No Charges for Clinton, Special Counsel Decides The Whitewater independent counsel, Robert W. Ray, said that there was ample evidence to convict former President Bill Clinton of perjury and obstruction of justice but that no charges would be brought because of the penalties that Mr. Clinton had already sustained.

The New York Times

But they made up for lost time against a Ross County side who had already sustained a league defeat this term.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

Floyd will be only 33, having played in fewer major league games than most of his peers, but he has already sustained enough injuries to last a career.

The New York Times - Sports

Is it really credible that ministers in the British government don't understand how much damage these children have already sustained?

The Guardian - Opinion

The extraordinary student mobilisation in Quebec has already sustained the longest and largest student strike in the history of North America, and it has already organised the single biggest act of civil disobedience in Canadian history.

The Guardian - Opinion

They have already sustained untenable losses, and they are living in desperate situations requiring the attention of a paid mentor — because volunteer mentors would not be prepared to handle those challenges.

The New York Times

Given that equities are already off by about 5percentt since July 19 — and have fallen as much as 11.9percentt if you count intraday highs and lows for the S.& P. 500 — the market may have already sustained a good percentage of its potential losses.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In formal writing, consider alternatives like "had previously experienced" or "had earlier undergone" for a more sophisticated tone, especially if "sustained" might seem too informal or dramatic for the context.

Common error

Avoid using "had already sustained" when the context only requires a simple past tense. For example, instead of "He had already sustained an injury when he fell again", use "He sustained an injury and then fell again" to clearly indicate the sequence.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had already sustained" functions as a past perfect verb phrase. It indicates that an action (sustaining something, often damage or injury) occurred and was completed before another point in time in the past. Ludwig AI validates the correctness and usability of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had already sustained" functions as a past perfect verb phrase, used to indicate that something was experienced or endured prior to a certain point in time. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically correct and suitable for various contexts, particularly news, science, and formal business settings. While alternatives exist, such as "had previously experienced", the original phrase offers a clear and concise way to convey the sequence of events. While not frequent, its specific use ensures accuracy and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had previously experienced

Focuses on the experience aspect, replacing "sustained" with a more general term. It emphasizes the prior occurrence of something.

had earlier undergone

Highlights the process of undergoing something, suggesting a formal or medical context. Emphasizes the temporal aspect of an experience.

had formerly endured

Stresses the aspect of enduring or bearing something difficult in the past. Introduces a sense of hardship or resilience.

had priorly suffered

Directly indicates suffering or negative consequences experienced before. Adds a sense of adversity or hardship.

had beforehand incurred

Emphasizes the act of incurring or bringing upon oneself something, often negative. Highlights responsibility or consequence.

had previously borne

Implies carrying or enduring a burden in the past. Suggests a sense of responsibility or resilience in the face of difficulty.

had in the past absorbed

Focuses on the assimilation or reception of something, possibly negative, over time. Implies a gradual process of acceptance or adaptation.

had already weathered

Uses a metaphorical term to suggest having successfully survived a difficult period. Conveys resilience and overcoming adversity.

had antecedently withstood

Highlights the act of resisting or withstanding something challenging in the past. Emphasizes strength and resistance.

had earlier been subjected to

Focuses on being made to undergo something, often unpleasant or difficult. Implies external forces or circumstances.

FAQs

How can I use "had already sustained" in a sentence?

Use "had already sustained" to describe something that someone or something has experienced or endured before a specific point in time. For example, "The building "had already sustained" significant damage before the hurricane hit".

What's a good alternative to "had already sustained"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "had previously experienced", "had earlier undergone", or "had formerly endured" as alternatives to "had already sustained".

Is "had already sustained" formal or informal?

"Had already sustained" is generally considered neutral in tone, suitable for both formal and informal writing. However, in highly formal contexts, alternatives such as "had previously experienced" might be preferred.

What is the difference between "had already sustained" and "already sustained"?

"Had already sustained" uses the past perfect tense, indicating the action was completed before another point in the past. "Already sustained" uses the present perfect tense, indicating the action was completed at some point in the past and is relevant to the present. For example: "By the time I arrived, he "had already sustained" an injury (past perfect)" vs. "He "has already sustained" an injury (present perfect)."