had even started

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had even started" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something had not begun at a certain point in the past, often emphasizing the unexpectedness of the situation. Example: "By the time the meeting began, the team had even started to lose hope that the project would be approved."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

They had even started planning to home-school their children.

The New York Times

He had even started to smile and make jokes.

The New York Times

Then, before he had even started work, he resigned.

The Guardian

The couple had even started talking about their wedding again.

The Washington Post

One school had even started a gardening project for children.

The Guardian

Players from Cameroon got their protest in before the tournament had even started.

The Economist

Venice Diary * This year's Irish pavilion was beset by controversy before the Biennale had even started.

Independent

"Avram Miller at Intel had even started a company for it.

The New York Times

Before he had even started working, he had received two raises totaling $10,000 a year.

The New York Times

The authority had even started playing classical music throughout the station.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

That was before the film had even started.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had even started" to emphasize that something was unexpectedly beginning or was not expected to have begun at a certain point. This can add dramatic effect or highlight a surprising development.

Common error

Avoid using "had even started" in contexts requiring present or future tense. This phrase is exclusively for past actions or states. For example, instead of "He has even started studying," use "He had even started studying before the test was announced."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had even started" functions as a past perfect verb phrase, indicating an action that began before another action in the past. Ludwig provides many examples to demonstrate its usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Academia

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Wiki

1%

Formal & Business

0.5%

Reference

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had even started" is a versatile past perfect construction used to highlight the initiation of an action before another point in the past, frequently adding emphasis or surprise. Ludwig AI indicates that the grammatical structure is correct. It is commonly found in news and media, as well as academic and scientific writing. Understanding its proper tense and context is crucial for effective communication. Remember to use this phrase to emphasize not only that an action was initiated prior to another, but also that its commencement might have been unexpected or significant in some way.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had just started

Indicates the action commenced very recently.

had already begun

Emphasizes that the action was in progress before a specific point in time.

had only just begun

Emphasizes the early stage of the action with a sense of potential.

had barely begun

Implies the action's initial phase was brief or incomplete.

was starting

A simpler form indicating the action was in the process of beginning.

had newly started

Highlights the novelty or recentness of the action's initiation.

had initiated

Similar to 'commenced', but can also imply taking the first step.

had commenced

A more formal synonym, implying a formal or official beginning.

had set about

Suggests the beginning of a task or project with a determined approach.

had embarked on

Indicates the start of a journey, project, or endeavor.

FAQs

How do I use "had even started" in a sentence?

Use "had even started" to describe an action that began before a specific point in the past, often emphasizing surprise or unexpectedness. For example, "By the time the rescue team arrived, the climbers "had even started" a fire for warmth."

What can I say instead of "had even started"?

Alternatives include "had already begun", "had just started", or "had newly started", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "had even started" or "has even started"?

"Had even started" is used for past perfect tense, indicating something that began before another point in the past. "Has even started" is present perfect tense, referring to something that started in the past and continues to the present or has relevance now. Choose the tense based on the timeline you're describing.

What's the difference between "had even started" and "already started"?

"Had even started" emphasizes the unexpected or surprising nature of the action's beginning, while "already started" simply indicates that the action was in progress at a certain point.