had just closed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had just closed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that an action was completed very recently in the past, often in relation to another past event. Example: "The store had just closed when I arrived, so I couldn't buy anything."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

The polls had just closed.

The Guardian - Business

The polls in the cities had just closed.

The New Yorker

"There were two who had just closed on houses".

The New York Times - Magazine

The farm, which has become a certified organic orchard, had just closed for the season.

The New York Times

Nor did she realize that she had just closed a $25 million deal.

The New York Times - Health

He said he had just closed in a role of considerable importance.

The New Yorker

His friend's hotel had just closed and his business was very slow.

The Guardian - Travel

The plane was still there, but its door had just closed, and that was that.

The New York Times

On the mobile we visited a village where the steel mill had just closed down.

The Guardian

This was no first-week curiosity shop he had just closed down with his talent and staying power.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

The polls have just closed.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had just closed" to emphasize the immediate past, especially when describing the consequences of something ending or becoming unavailable a short time ago.

Common error

Avoid using "had just closed" when the action happened a significant time ago; "had closed" or "closed" may be more appropriate.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had just closed" functions as a past perfect construction indicating that an action (closing) was completed immediately before another point in time in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically sound and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

84%

Formal & Business

12%

Science

4%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had just closed" is a versatile and grammatically correct phrase used to indicate that an action concluded shortly before another event in the past. According to Ludwig AI, its usage is widespread across various contexts, particularly in news and media. Remember to reserve it for situations where the immediacy of the closing is important for conveying the narrative, and avoid it when referring to actions that concluded a long time ago. Understanding these nuances ensures effective communication and precision in your writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had recently closed

Emphasizes the recency of the closing action but is slightly more formal.

had only just closed

Highlights the immediacy of the closing, implying it happened moments before.

had barely closed

Implies the closing happened with very little time to spare.

had finished closing

Focuses on the completion of the closing process, rather than the state of being closed.

had lately closed

Similar to 'recently', but less common in contemporary usage.

had terminated just now

More emphatic, specifying the precise moment of termination.

had ceased operations

Specifically refers to the end of business activities.

had shut down just then

Informal, emphasizing the abrupt nature of the closing.

had concluded business

Formal and business-oriented, implying the end of a transaction or operation.

had wrapped up

More casual, suggesting a conclusion to a process or activity.

FAQs

How can I use "had just closed" in a sentence?

Use "had just closed" to indicate that an action of closing finished very recently before another action or event occurred. For example, "The store "had just closed" when I arrived, so I couldn't buy milk."

What are some alternatives to "had just closed"?

You can use alternatives like "had recently closed", "had only just closed", or "had barely closed" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "has just closed" instead of "had just closed"?

No, "has just closed" is present perfect, implying the action's relevance to the present. "Had just closed" is past perfect, used when referring to an action completed before another point in the past.

What's the difference between "had just closed" and "had closed"?

"Had just closed" emphasizes the recency of the action; "had closed" simply indicates that the action was completed at some point in the past, without specific emphasis on how recently.