had gone empty

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had gone empty" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where something has been depleted or is no longer containing anything, often in a past context. Example: "After the long journey, the gas tank had gone empty, leaving us stranded on the side of the road."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Half the country's tourist beds had gone empty since 1997.

The New York Times - Magazine

Her status as a tenant reoccupying a flat that had gone empty since she moved out gave her much greater legal protection (housing lawyers, say if I've got this wrong).

The Guardian - Opinion

Jeff Lang's smug ruby tail-lights continued halfway around the traffic circle, passed the liquor store, and headed up Fourth Street, toward the old textile mills that had been reborn as discount outlets and then had gone empty again, as the busloads of Baltimore bargain hunters went instead to the outlets near Morgan's Forge.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

From Woods's first major title at the 1997 Masters to the 2008 U.S. Open, the longest he had gone empty-handed was 34 months.

The New York Times - Sports

And those seats might've gone empty".

The New York Times

About nine stores, including S. Marsh & Sons Jewelers, have gone empty.

The New York Times

Many more rooms surely would have gone empty if hotels had not slashed their rates.

The New York Times

While jobs have disappeared and hotel rooms have gone empty, depriving the city of revenues, ridership on the subways and buses has increased, a historical anomaly.

The New York Times

He had shaped the previous day but had gone home empty-handed.

The New York Times

They sat in a coffee shop on Cote Street, but Yasmin couldn't smoke inside, and even outside on the seats under the awning she wasn't sure she dared to smoke her dope, which she could have done if they had gone to the empty house.

The New Yorker

Many sportspeople have stories pertaining to that final 'look': "He was already gone," they tell you, "you could see it in his eyes". They don't tell you about the times they thought an opponent had gone and those empty eyes had lied.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had gone empty" when you want to emphasize a past state of vacancy or depletion, particularly if there's an implied contrast with a previous filled state. For example, "The theater had gone empty after the final act, a stark contrast to the bustling crowd earlier."

Common error

Avoid using "had gone empty" to describe a current state. The past perfect tense implies a completed action in the past. Instead, use "is empty" or "has gone empty" if describing something that is currently vacant.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had gone empty" functions as a past perfect construction, indicating that something became empty before a specific point in the past. This usage showcases a sequence of events, where the emptying occurred prior to another action or time.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had gone empty" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase in English, although Ludwig AI suggests it is relatively rare. It's primarily used in news and media to describe a past state of vacancy, emphasizing the change or transition to an empty condition. When writing, ensure the past perfect tense is appropriate and consider alternatives like "had become vacant" or "had emptied out" to better fit the specific context. Avoid using "had gone empty" to describe a current state. Remember that "had gone empty" emphasizes the change, while "was empty" just describes the condition.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had become vacant

Focuses on the state of being unoccupied, suitable for spaces or positions.

had emptied out

Highlights the process of becoming empty, emphasizing the removal of contents.

had been abandoned

Emphasizes the act of being deserted or forsaken, often implying neglect.

had become deserted

Focuses on the result of abandonment, stressing the loneliness and lack of activity.

had cleared out

Implies a deliberate action of removing people or things, resulting in emptiness.

had fallen into disuse

Highlights the decline and lack of use over time, leading to emptiness.

had lapsed into emptiness

Suggests a gradual transition to a state of being empty, often with a sense of loss.

had lost its contents

Directly refers to the absence of items that were previously inside.

had been evacuated

Emphasizes the removal of people due to an emergency or specific situation.

had run dry

Specifically indicates a depletion of liquids or resources, leading to emptiness.

FAQs

How can I use "had gone empty" in a sentence?

Use "had gone empty" to describe something that was once full or occupied but is now vacant, emphasizing the change over time. For example: "By the time we arrived, the stadium "had gone empty"."

What's a good alternative to "had gone empty"?

Depending on the context, you can use phrases like "had become vacant", "had emptied out", or "had been abandoned".

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

While "had gone empty" refers to a past state, "has gone empty" suggests a more recent change. "The room has gone empty" implies it was occupied more recently than "The room "had gone empty"".

When should I use "had gone empty" over similar phrases like "was empty"?

"Had gone empty" emphasizes the change to an empty state, while "was empty" simply describes a state of being empty. If the process of becoming empty is important, use ""had gone empty"".