had gotten off

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had gotten off" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in past perfect tense to indicate that someone or something has exited or disembarked from a vehicle or location prior to another past event. Example: "By the time I arrived at the station, she had gotten off the train and was waiting for me."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

We had gotten off to a bad start.

The New Yorker

SunCal had gotten off to a bad start.

The New York Times

Prosecutors said Mr. Nyce had gotten off lightly.

The New York Times

If only they had gotten off to a less plodding start.

The New York Times - Books

My seatmate, who had gotten off the train 25 miles earlier, had left it.

The New York Times

At the time, some columnists and players grumbled that Braun had gotten off on a technicality.

The New Yorker

Mr. Fernandez-Versini's evening had gotten off to a bumpy start.

The New York Times - Style

Then, he shrugged and smiled gently, suggesting that he knew he had gotten off easily.

The New York Times

The job had gotten off to a slow start, given bad weather last winter.

The New York Times

It might have been a different story if we had gotten off to a quick lead".

The New York Times - Sports

Now the big weekend had finally arrived, though it had gotten off to a rocky start.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had gotten off" to clearly indicate that someone or something has exited a vehicle or location prior to another event in the past. For instance, "By the time the ambulance arrived, the passengers "had disembarked from" the bus."

Common error

Avoid using "had gotten off" when referring to present or future actions. This phrase is specifically for past perfect tense, indicating that an action was completed before another point in the past. Example: Incorrect: "She "is getting off" at the next stop yesterday."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had gotten off" functions as a phrasal verb in the past perfect tense. It indicates that an action of disembarking or exiting occurred before another action or time in the past. Ludwig examples showcase this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

3%

Less common in

Science

1%

Reference

0.5%

Wiki

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had gotten off" is a phrasal verb employed in the past perfect tense, predominantly used to illustrate that an action of exiting or disembarking occurred prior to another event in the past. As highlighted by Ludwig, its usage is grammatically correct and widely accepted. The phrase is most commonly found in news and media contexts and maintains a neutral register. While alternatives like ""had disembarked from"" or "had alighted from" exist, "had gotten off" remains a versatile and frequently used option.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had disembarked from

Replaces "gotten off" with a more formal verb implying exiting a vehicle.

had alighted from

Suggests a more elegant or literary way of saying someone exited a vehicle.

had stepped out of

Implies a simple act of exiting, suitable for various contexts.

had left

A more general term for departing, applicable when the mode of transport is not important.

had exited

A straightforward and versatile alternative for leaving a place or vehicle.

had departed from

Emphasizes the act of leaving from a specific location or mode of transport.

had concluded

Applicable when referring to the termination of an activity or task.

had finished

A simple way to express the completion of something, such as a job or a shift.

had escaped

Implies avoiding a punishment or difficult situation.

had been acquitted

Specifically refers to being found not guilty in a legal setting.

FAQs

How do I use "had gotten off" correctly in a sentence?

"Had gotten off" is used in the past perfect tense to show that an action of exiting or disembarking occurred before another action in the past. For example, "After he "had gotten off" the train, he realized he'd left his briefcase behind."

What's a more formal alternative to "had gotten off"?

For a more formal tone, you could use alternatives such as ""had disembarked from"" or "had alighted from", which are often used in more sophisticated writing or speaking contexts.

Can "had gotten off" refer to escaping punishment?

While "had gotten off" primarily refers to exiting a vehicle or location, it can also colloquially mean to have escaped punishment or consequences, especially in the phrase "had gotten off lightly". The context usually makes the intended meaning clear.

Is "had gotten off" interchangeable with "had gotten away with"?

While both phrases imply avoiding negative consequences, "had gotten off" often suggests a less severe outcome or a narrower escape than "had gotten away with". The latter implies a deliberate act or wrongdoing that went unpunished.