had covered

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had covered" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in the past perfect tense to indicate that an action was completed before another action in the past. Example: "By the time the meeting started, we had covered all the necessary topics."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The inspection had covered only visible features.

The New York Times

Both had covered the police beat.

Independent

It was the first she had covered.

The New York Times

Someone had covered me with a shirt.

The New York Times

Facebook had covered up a major scandal.

The Guardian - Opinion

He had covered almost 250 miles (400km).

The Guardian

They had covered nearly eight nautical miles.

The New Yorker

My kindergarten teacher had covered similar ground.

The New Yorker

If only Rusch had covered first.

The New York Times - Sports

pense of one who had covered a citizen in battle.

Yale University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

We've covered education.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had covered", ensure the context clearly establishes a sequence of past events, making it evident that the action of covering occurred before another past action. For instance, "By the time the presentation started, the team had covered all key aspects of the project."

Common error

Avoid using "had covered" when a simple past tense would suffice. For example, instead of "They had covered the event yesterday", use "They covered the event yesterday" if there's no other past action to relate it to.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had covered" functions as a past perfect verb phrase, indicating an action completed before another point in the past. Ludwig shows its prevalent use in expressing actions finished prior to a subsequent event or time.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Academia

18%

Science

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had covered" is a versatile past perfect verb phrase used to describe actions completed before another point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and frequent usage across diverse contexts, particularly in News & Media, Academia and Science. While generally neutral in register, it leans towards formal and requires careful attention to tense and voice. Alternatives like "addressed" and "dealt with" offer semantic flexibility. Remember to use "had covered" to ensure a clear temporal relationship between past events.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

addressed

Replaces "covered" with a focus on directly dealing with or discussing a topic.

dealt with

Emphasizes the act of handling or managing a situation or subject matter.

discussed

Focuses on the act of talking about or examining a topic in detail.

encompassed

Stresses a comprehensive or wide-ranging inclusion of elements or topics.

included

Highlights the aspect of containing or encompassing something within a scope.

went over

Indicates a review or examination of something, often in a less formal way.

reported on

Specifically refers to the act of providing information or news about something.

examined

Focuses on a detailed investigation or inspection of a topic or subject.

protected

Highlights the action of keeping something safe or shielded from harm.

concealed

Emphasizes the act of hiding or keeping something secret.

FAQs

How can I use "had covered" in a sentence?

Use "had covered" to indicate an action completed before another action in the past. Example: "By the time the guests arrived, she "had covered" the table with a beautiful tablecloth."

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

"Had covered" indicates the past perfect tense, meaning the action was completed before another point in the past. "Covered" is simple past tense and doesn't necessarily imply completion before another past action. For example, "She "covered" the topic in class" vs "She "had covered" the topic before the exam."

What can I say instead of "had covered"?

You can use alternatives like "had addressed", "had dealt with", or "had included" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "had been covered" instead of "had covered"?

"Had been covered" is the past perfect passive voice. It's correct when the subject receives the action, whereas "had covered" is active. For instance, "The floor "had been covered" in dirt" (passive) vs. "They "had covered" the floor with a rug" (active).