had not arrived

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had not arrived" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something or someone was expected to be present but was not at a specific point in the past. Example: "By the time the meeting started, the package had not arrived, causing a delay in the presentation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Her dress had not arrived.

The New York Times

Paramedics had not arrived.

The New York Times

The horses had not arrived.

The Guardian - Music

The money, however, had not arrived.

The Guardian - Travel

And the future had not arrived yet.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

(The crib had not arrived yet).

The New York Times

A month later, they still had not arrived.

The New York Times

It grew very late, yet Smith had not arrived.

The New Yorker

Six weeks later, the photos had not arrived.

The Guardian - Money

But by 8 18 Regeni still had not arrived.

The New York Times - Magazine

It was a pity they had not arrived earlier".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had not arrived", ensure the context clearly establishes the expected arrival time or deadline. This provides clarity and avoids ambiguity for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "has not arrived" when referring to a specific point in the past. "Has not arrived" implies the arrival is still pending, whereas "had not arrived" indicates it didn't happen by a certain past time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had not arrived" functions as a past perfect negative construction, indicating that an expected arrival did not occur before a specific time in the past. Ludwig confirms the consistent use of this phrase in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

78%

Academia

13%

Wiki

2%

Less common in

Science

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had not arrived" is a grammatically sound and very common way to express that something or someone was expected but did not arrive by a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI indicates that it’s most frequently used in news and media, as well as academic contexts, with a neutral register suitable for various communication styles. When writing, ensure you establish the expected time of arrival to provide clarity. Consider alternatives like "had not shown up" or "had yet to arrive" for stylistic variation, and remember to avoid using "has not arrived" when referring to a specific past event.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had yet to arrive

Emphasizes the expectation of arrival at a later time.

was not there yet

Expresses that the arrival is pending and has not occurred at the current time.

hadn't shown up

Uses a more informal phrasal verb to indicate non-arrival.

had not appeared

Employs a more formal synonym for "arrived", suggesting a similar meaning.

had failed to arrive

Highlights the failure of someone or something to reach the destination.

was still missing

Shifts the focus to the absence of something or someone, rather than the act of arriving.

had not reached

Focuses on the failure to reach a specific location or state.

had not materialised

Implies that something expected to happen or appear did not.

was overdue

Suggests that the arrival was expected and is now late.

remained unarrived

Uses a less common, more emphatic way of stating non-arrival.

FAQs

How do I use "had not arrived" in a sentence?

Use "had not arrived" to indicate that something or someone was expected at a specific point in the past but didn't make it. For example, "By the time the meeting started, the documents "had not arrived"."

What's the difference between "has not arrived" and "had not arrived"?

"Has not arrived" implies the subject is currently missing. "Had not arrived" indicates the subject didn't arrive by a specific point in the past. For example, "The package has not arrived" (still missing), vs. "The package "had not arrived" by yesterday evening" (didn't arrive by that time).

What can I say instead of "had not arrived"?

You could use phrases like "had not shown up", "had not appeared", or "was still missing" depending on the specific context.

Is "had not arrived yet" grammatically correct?

Yes, "had not arrived yet" is grammatically correct and adds emphasis to the expectation of arrival. It's similar to saying something "had yet to arrive". For instance, "The guests "had not arrived" yet when the music started."