had contracted

USAGE SUMMARY

'had contracted' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
This phrase is often used in the past perfect tense, which is used to indicate that an action occurred before another action in the past. For example: "The patient had contracted the disease two weeks before receiving a diagnosis."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

But lately her long view had contracted.

The New Yorker

She escaped, but had contracted HIV.

The Economist

Each had contracted H.I.V. as teenagers.

The New York Times - Arts

Spain's economy had contracted for nine consecutive quarters.

The New York Times

Within a week Wenderaki had contracted a fever.

The New York Times

He alone quit, but after he had contracted H.I.V.

The New York Times - Health

Twelve years later, she had contracted the disease.

The New Yorker

Ferry-Morse was a seed corn company that had contracted to market Food Corn's seed corn.

Harvard University

The Waterman Corporation had contracted directly with a government agency, the Maritime Commission.

Cornell University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

A year later, he said he had contracted pneumonia.

The New York Times

Their lives had contracted.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had contracted" to clearly indicate that an event (like contracting a disease or debt) happened before another point in the past. This provides a strong sense of chronological order in your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "had contracted" when you simply need the simple past tense ("contracted"). "Had contracted" is appropriate only when describing an event that occurred before another event in the past. For example, instead of "He had contracted the virus yesterday", use "He contracted the virus yesterday".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had contracted" primarily functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect tense. It indicates an action (contracting something, such as a disease, debt, or agreement) that was completed before another action or point in time in the past. Ludwig AI confirms the correct grammatical usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

20%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Wiki

4%

Academia

8%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had contracted" is a grammatically correct and commonly used verb phrase in the past perfect tense. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's used to indicate an action completed before another point in the past, establishing a clear sequence of events. It appears frequently in "News & Media", "Science", and "Formal & Business" contexts, emphasizing its versatility. When writing, remember to use it specifically to describe an action that occurred before another past action, avoiding simple past tense replacements. Consider alternatives like "had caught", "had incurred", or "had entered into" for nuanced meanings, depending on the situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had become infected with

Specifically denotes the acquisition of an infection.

had caught

Focuses specifically on acquiring an illness or disease.

had fallen ill with

Specifically refers to becoming sick with an illness.

had incurred

Implies acquiring a debt or obligation.

had been diagnosed with

Emphasizes a formal medical identification of a disease.

had picked up

Implies acquiring something, often casually or unintentionally, like a habit or disease.

had been afflicted with

Highlights suffering from a disease or ailment.

had assumed

Suggests taking on a responsibility or role.

had entered into

Emphasizes formally agreeing to a contract or agreement.

had developed

Indicates the gradual onset of a condition or illness.

FAQs

How is "had contracted" used in a sentence?

"Had contracted" is used to indicate that an action of contracting something (like a disease or agreement) occurred before another action in the past. For example, "She "had contracted" the flu before she went on vacation".

What are some synonyms for "had contracted"?

Depending on the context, synonyms for "had contracted" include "had caught", "had incurred", or "had entered into". Choose the synonym that best fits the specific meaning you intend to convey.

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

No, "has contracted" is present perfect tense, while "had contracted" is past perfect. Use "has contracted" when the action is relevant to the present, and "had contracted" when the action occurred before another point in the past. For example: "He "has contracted" the virus recently" versus "He "had contracted" the virus before the symptoms appeared".

What's the difference between "contracted" and "had contracted"?

"Contracted" is simple past tense and describes a completed action in the past. "Had contracted" is past perfect tense and describes an action completed before another action in the past. For example: "She "contracted" the disease last year", versus "She "had contracted" the disease before the vaccine was available".