had gone out

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had gone out" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone or something left a place or became unavailable in the past before another event occurred. Example: "By the time I arrived at the party, everyone had gone out to the club."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

36 human-written examples

Power had gone out in the building.

The New York Times

He had gone out, against my advice.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

It was the first time they had gone out alone.

The New Yorker

On this day, mbouk, their fire had gone out...

The New Yorker

She had gone out during the storm to buy drugs.

The New Yorker

"My brother had gone out with friends," she said.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

24 human-written examples

The boys have gone out hawking.

The New Yorker

"She must have gone out," he said.

The New Yorker

"The pilot light must have gone out".

The New Yorker

It has gone out, I believe.

The New Yorker

Release 7.10.2 of CLIO has gone out today.

Columbia University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had gone out" to clearly indicate that an action of leaving or termination occurred before another event in the past. For example: "By the time the police arrived, the burglars "had gone out" the back door."

Common error

Avoid using "had gone out" when the simple past tense is sufficient. For instance, instead of "She "had gone out" when I called", use "She went out when I called" if the sequence isn't crucial.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had gone out" functions as a past perfect verb phrase. It indicates an action that was completed before another action in the past. Ludwig's examples show it used to describe someone leaving, a light being extinguished, or something being distributed.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had gone out" is a past perfect verb phrase used to indicate that an action was completed before another action in the past. As Ludwig AI explains, it's grammatically correct and frequently appears in news, academic, and other neutral contexts. While alternatives like "had left" or "had departed" exist, "had gone out" specifically conveys a sense of prior departure or termination, emphasizing chronological order.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had left

Focuses on the act of leaving a place or situation.

had departed

Emphasizes a formal or official departure.

had exited

Suggests a movement out of a specific area or system.

had been extinguished

Specifically refers to something (like a fire or light) being put out.

had been distributed

Implies a spreading or giving out of something.

had been released

Focuses on something being set free or made available.

had become unavailable

Highlights that something is no longer accessible or usable.

had ceased functioning

Emphasizes the termination of operation or activity.

had lost power

Specifically refers to a loss of electrical power or influence.

had run out

Indicates the depletion of a resource or supply.

FAQs

How is "had gone out" used in a sentence?

"Had gone out" indicates a past perfect tense, meaning the action of going out was completed before another action in the past. For example, "By the time I got there, she "had gone out" for groceries." It's used to establish a sequence of past events.

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

You can use alternatives like "had left", "had departed", or "had exited" depending on the context and the nuance you wish to convey.

When should I use "had gone out" instead of "went out"?

Use "had gone out" when you need to emphasize that the action of going out happened before another action in the past. If the sequence is not important, "went out" is sufficient. For example, "She went out" simply states she left, while "She had gone out by the time I arrived" clarifies the order of events.

What is the difference between "had gone out" and "has gone out"?

"Had gone out" is past perfect, referring to a completed action in the past before another past action. "Has gone out" is present perfect, referring to an action that started in the past and has relevance to the present. For example: "She had gone out before I called" (past), vs. "She "has gone out", so she's not here now" (present).