had expected that

USAGE SUMMARY

"had expected that" is correct and usable in written English as it is a past perfect verb phrase.
It expresses an action or event that was completed before another past action or event. It is often used to convey a feeling of surprise or disappointment. Example: I had expected that she would understand my reasons for leaving, but she seemed angry and hurt instead.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

He had expected that, as usual, his father would shoot only one or two frames.

The New Yorker

Analysts had expected that 5,000 to 6,000 jobs would be cut.

The New York Times - Tech

Most economists had expected that rate to increase to 1.7percentt.

The New York Times

But he had expected that.

The Guardian - Sport

I had expected that he would be rigid, moralizing, sombre.

The New Yorker

Many observers had expected that Benedict would reduce their number.

The Economist

ComScore had expected that sales would exceed $700 million.

The New York Times

Economists had expected that figure to reach about 5.33 million.

The New York Times

Economists had expected that orders grew by 1.8%.

The Guardian - Business

Otherwise, the project had expected that there to be a much larger SRI area last season.

Cornell University

"I had expected that the unions would be a significant force".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had expected that" to clearly indicate an expectation held in the past that may or may not have been fulfilled. This is especially useful when contrasting the expectation with the actual outcome.

Common error

Avoid using "had expected that" when referring to a present or future expectation. The past perfect tense implies that the expectation was held at a point in the past. Use "expect" or "are expecting" for current or future expectations.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had expected that" functions as a verb phrase indicating a past expectation. It is commonly used to express a prior belief or anticipation regarding a particular outcome or event, often highlighting a contrast between what was anticipated and what actually occurred. Ludwig AI validates its correctness and usability in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

44%

Science

28%

Formal & Business

28%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had expected that" is a grammatically correct and frequently used phrase to express a past expectation. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's suitable for various contexts, especially when contrasting an anticipation with the actual outcome. While it appears most often in news and media, its presence in scientific and formal writing makes it a versatile choice. When using the phrase, ensure it accurately reflects a past expectation and avoid using it for current or future scenarios. Alternatives like "had anticipated that" or "had foreseen that" can add nuance depending on the context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had anticipated that

Replaces 'expected' with 'anticipated', implying a degree of preparation or readiness for the event.

had foreseen that

Substitutes 'expected' with 'foreseen', suggesting a predictive ability or insight into future events.

had predicted that

Uses 'predicted' instead of 'expected', emphasizing a formal or calculated forecast.

had assumed that

Replaces 'expected' with 'assumed', indicating a belief without concrete evidence.

had supposed that

Substitutes 'expected' with 'supposed', implying a tentative or provisional belief.

had believed that

Replaces 'expected' with 'believed', focusing on a conviction or faith in a particular outcome.

had imagined that

Uses 'imagined' instead of 'expected', suggesting a mental picture or visualization of the event.

had thought that

Replaces 'expected' with 'thought', indicating a simple mental consideration or opinion.

had reckoned that

Substitutes 'expected' with 'reckoned', implying a rough calculation or estimation.

had presumed that

Replaces 'expected' with 'presumed', suggesting an assumption based on probability or likelihood.

FAQs

How can I use "had expected that" in a sentence?

Use "had expected that" to describe a past expectation that may or may not have been met. For example, "I "had expected that" the movie would be good, but it was terrible."

What are some alternatives to "had expected that"?

You can use alternatives such as "had anticipated that", "had foreseen that", or "had presumed that" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "I have expected that" instead of "I had expected that"?

No, "I have expected that" uses the present perfect tense, which indicates an expectation that continues to the present. "I "had expected that"" (past perfect) refers to an expectation held and completed in the past.

What is the difference between "had expected that" and "was expecting that"?

"Had expected that" indicates an expectation that was completed before another point in the past, while "was expecting that" suggests a continuous expectation in the past. The former emphasizes the completion of the expectation, while the latter emphasizes the duration.