had gone down

USAGE SUMMARY

"had gone down" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It is the past perfect form of the verb "to go down," indicating that something had already descended or decreased at a specific point in the past. Example: By the time she arrived at the beach, the sun had gone down and the sky was darkening.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

If anything, their abilities had gone down.

The New York Times - Science

Just 3% said it had gone down.

Independent

How much crime had gone down.

The New York Times

But before that they had gone down.

The Guardian

He said the swelling had gone down.

The New York Times - Sports

The sun had gone down on Ex-mas evening.

The New Yorker

My net worth had gone down to ten million dollars.

The New Yorker

If he had gone down, it was a clear penalty.

The Guardian - Sport

"A runner had gone down after obvious contact," he said.

The New York Times

She had gone down that path herself, unhappily.

The New York Times

Finally it happened Sunday after the sun had gone down.

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had gone down", ensure the context clearly establishes the point in the past to which the 'had' refers. This helps avoid ambiguity and ensures the timeline of events is clear to the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "had gone down" when the simple past tense ("went down") is more appropriate. Use "had gone down" only when referring to an action completed before another point in the past. For example, instead of "The stock had gone down yesterday", use "The stock went down yesterday" if you're simply stating what happened yesterday.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had gone down" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect tense. It describes an action that was completed before another action or time in the past, as confirmed by Ludwig examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Science

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Reference

1%

Academia

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had gone down" is a grammatically sound and common verb phrase in the past perfect tense, used to indicate that an action was completed before another point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and provides numerous examples of its use in varied contexts, particularly in news and media. When writing, be sure to use the correct tense and be aware that similar alternative phrases like "had decreased" or "had fallen" can be used depending on the specific shade of meaning you want to convey. By keeping these points in mind, you can confidently use "had gone down" in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had decreased

Focuses on the quantitative reduction of something.

had declined

Implies a gradual deterioration or reduction in quality or quantity.

had fallen

Suggests a sudden or rapid drop.

had dropped

Similar to fallen, but can also imply a deliberate action.

had sunk

Emphasizes a complete failure or submergence.

had diminished

Highlights a reduction in size, importance, or intensity.

had lessened

Indicates a decrease in amount, degree, or severity.

had deteriorated

Focuses on the worsening of a condition or quality.

had collapsed

Implies a sudden and complete failure or breakdown.

had receded

Suggests a movement back or away, often used for water levels or abstract concepts.

FAQs

How do I use "had gone down" in a sentence?

Use "had gone down" to describe an action that was completed before another action in the past. For example, "By the time the rescue team arrived, the ship "had gone down"."

What's the difference between "had gone down" and "went down"?

"Went down" is simple past tense, describing an action that happened in the past. "Had gone down" is past perfect, indicating an action completed before another point in the past. For instance, "The sun went down" versus "The sun "had gone down" before we reached the camp".

What can I say instead of "had gone down"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "had decreased", "had fallen", or "had declined" to express a similar meaning.

Is it correct to say "has gone down" instead of "had gone down"?

The correct tense depends on the context. "Has gone down" is present perfect and refers to a past action with relevance to the present, while ""had gone down"" is past perfect and refers to an action completed before another point in the past.