had given leave

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had given leave" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone has granted permission or allowed someone to do something in the past. Example: "The manager had given leave to the employees to attend the conference."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

But the government has given leave to nonessential employees in those areas, so it is not clear how they will have the staffing to isolate the sick.

The New York Times

The document sought to rebut the reasons Mr Tang had given for leaving Singapore soon after the general election in January, in which he was a defeated candidate.

The Economist

The trial judge, Mr Justice Moses, who accused Shayler of "blinkered arrogance" and of breaking undertakings he had given before leaving MI5, sentenced him to six months.

The Guardian

Mr Justice Moses, the trial judge, accused Shayler, 36, of "blinkered arrogance" and of breaking undertakings he had given before leaving MI5.

The Guardian

And 42% of women had given "serious thought" to leaving.

The Guardian

By 1900 many of the individual miners (called "stampeders") had given up and were leaving Yukon.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Tim Duncan's tip-in with 13.2 seconds left had given the Spurs a 96-95 advantage.

The New York Times - Sports

Mr. Rosenthal had visited a Midtown Chinese restaurant that Mr. Sokolov had given four stars, and left shaking his head.

The New York Times - Books

A lady, believed to be her mother, called the ambulance service from the kiosk to say she had given birth and had left her on Renwick Road.

BBC

The school had given him sick leave.

The New Yorker

His boss had given him permission to take leave.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had given leave", ensure the context clearly indicates who granted the leave and the reason for it. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

A common mistake is to confuse "leave" (permission to be absent) with "left" (past tense of leave, meaning to depart). Ensure you use the correct form depending on your intended meaning. For example, "He had given leave" is different from "He had left".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had given leave" functions as a verb phrase indicating the granting of permission for absence. It shows a completed action in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Formal & Business

33%

Science

32%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had given leave" is grammatically correct and functions as a verb phrase that indicates someone in authority granted permission to be absent. Though rare, its usage is generally neutral and appropriate for news, formal, and business contexts. Ludwig AI analysis supports this conclusion, confirming its correctness and providing examples. While the phrase is valid, consider alternatives like "had granted permission" for enhanced clarity or formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had granted permission

Replaces "given leave" with a more formal synonym for granting authorization.

had authorized absence

Emphasizes the formal approval of being away.

had approved time off

Specifically refers to sanctioning a period of absence from work or duty.

had permitted absence

Indicates allowance of being away, using a slightly more formal tone.

had allowed a furlough

Suggests a temporary leave of absence, often without pay.

had sanctioned a break

Implies official endorsement of a pause or respite.

had conceded time away

Suggests reluctantly granting time off.

had excused absence

Focuses on forgiving or justifying an absence.

had signed off on leave

Implies formal approval through a signature or official mark.

had released from duty

Highlights the act of freeing someone from their obligations.

FAQs

What does "had given leave" mean?

The phrase "had given leave" means that someone had granted permission or authorization for someone else to be absent from a duty, job, or location. It implies that the permission was given in the past.

How can I use "had given leave" in a sentence?

You can use "had given leave" in a sentence like: "The manager "had granted permission" for the employee to attend the training session" or "The university "had approved time off" for research purposes."

What are some alternatives to "had given leave"?

Some alternatives to "had given leave" include "had granted permission", "had authorized absence", or "had approved time off".

Is it correct to say "had gave leave" instead of "had given leave"?

No, it is not correct. The correct phrasing is "had given leave". "Given" is the past participle of the verb "give" and should be used after "had". "Gave" is the simple past tense and is not appropriate in this context.