had just undergone

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had just undergone" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action that was completed recently before another action or event in the past. Example: "She had just undergone surgery when she received the news about her promotion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She had just undergone an extensive course of radiation.

The New York Times

He had one lung, emphysema and had just undergone chemotherapy.

The Guardian

Five white New Zealand rabbits had just undergone oophorectomies to surgically induce menopause.

The New York Times - Magazine

In 1926 Colebrook became interested in the incidence of puerperal fever in women who had just undergone childbirth.

Encyclopedia Britannica

A tiny patch of sky on the Lamb panel had just undergone a test cleaning with mild solvents, including ethanol.

The New Yorker

Dr. Spillane had just undergone successful heart valve replacement surgery, said his son-in-law, Brian Orsi, but died of pulmonary disease.

The Washington Post

She had just undergone surgery for early-stage pancreatic cancer, and Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky). had told an audience that she might not be around much longer.

The Washington Post

A fourth voter refused to vote for players in their first year of eligibility and the fifth confessed to overlooking Seaver because he had just undergone surgery.

The New York Times

His brother John tells of Dan's encounter with a woman who had just undergone in vitro fertilization nearby, at Strong Memorial.

The New York Times - Health

His first thought, once the shooting stopped -- a thought he now finds rather strange -- was how to tell others about the clash he had just undergone.

The New York Times

It may have been the ultraviolet light, or it may have been the spotty cleaning that the ball had just undergone.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had just undergone", ensure the sentence clearly establishes the sequence of events, emphasizing the recent completion of one action before another.

Common error

Avoid using "had just undergone" when the timing isn't crucial or when the subsequent event isn't directly related to the first. Ensure the context clearly links the completed action to its immediate consequences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had just undergone" functions as a part of the past perfect tense, indicating that an action was completed in the past before another action or time in the past. Ludwig shows that it is often used to establish a sequence of events.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Wiki

10%

Formal & Business

5%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had just undergone" is a grammatically sound and frequently used expression for indicating that an action was recently completed before another event in the past. According to Ludwig, the phrase is correct and usable in written English. Its versatility makes it suitable for various contexts, particularly in news, science, and encyclopedic content. While "had recently experienced" and similar phrases can be used as alternatives, understanding the subtle nuances of each option ensures precise and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had recently experienced

Emphasizes the recency of the experience with a different verb.

had only just completed

Focuses on the completion of an action shortly before another event.

had freshly experienced

Highlights the newness of the experience.

had newly gone through

Similar to 'undergone' but uses a more common verb 'go through'.

had barely finished

Indicates a very recent completion, almost immediately before another event.

had lately been subjected to

Formal and emphasizes being on the receiving end of an action.

had previously been through

Shifts focus slightly to a prior experience, but still recent.

had not long since experienced

Formal and emphasizes the short time since the experience.

had in recent times endured

Highlights the challenging nature of what was experienced.

had just been a recipient of

Emphasizes the receiving of something recent.

FAQs

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

Use "had just undergone" to indicate that someone has recently experienced something before another event occurred. For example, "She "had just undergone surgery" when she received the good news".

What are some alternatives to "had just undergone"?

You can use alternatives such as "had recently experienced", "had newly gone through", or "had only just completed depending on the specific context.

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

No, "has just undergone" is present perfect tense and implies something that recently happened and is still relevant now. "Had just undergone" is past perfect tense, and specifies a completed action before another point in the past. Choose the form that best represents the timing of the events.

What's the difference between "had just undergone" and "had already undergone"?

"Had just undergone" implies something happened very recently before another event, while "had already undergone" implies it happened sometime before, without necessarily being immediately prior.