had not fed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had not fed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone or something did not receive food in the past, often in a narrative or descriptive context. Example: "The stray dog had not fed for days, and it looked weak and frail."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

After feeding, the mosquitoes were sorted according to the amount of blood they had ingested: those that had not fed at all (non-fed), those with a fully stretched abdomen (fully fed) and those with a small quantity of blood in the abdomen (partially fed).

BMC Physiology

It wasn't until evening that I remembered my stomach, that I had not fed it.

The New York Times

"If we had not fed them, they would not even be able to hold their guns," he said.

The New York Times

The ONS said there was some evidence that a cheaper currency was pushing up the cost of fuel and raw materials for manufacturing – an early indicator of inflationary pressure – but this had not fed into more expensive prices for consumers.

The Guardian - Business

Gonad extract from males that had not fed off a host had no effect on the females.

Science Magazine

A negative PCR result for blood meal, observed in 12 specimens, could be because the insect had not fed, failure of PCR, or the blood meal source was a species not included in our assay.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

Then she woke one morning to find him attached to her breast, and she wondered why she hadn't fed any of the other changelings this way.

The New Yorker

"I'm here today because of what I learned in school," says Chep. "If they hadn't fed us, I don't think I would have learned very much".

Huffington Post

Election concerns have not fed through to share prices, however.

The Guardian - Business

So far, that has not fed a desire to sit down and talk.

The New York Times

However, this expansion in activity has not fed through into wage packets.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had not fed", ensure the context clearly indicates who or what was not provided with food. For instance, "The zookeeper realized he "had not fed" the lions all day" is clearer than "He "had not fed"".

Common error

Avoid mistakenly using "fed" when you mean "feed" (present tense) or "feeding" (continuous tense). For example, don't say "He promised to "had not fed" the birds tomorrow"; instead, use "He promised he would not feed the birds tomorrow."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had not fed" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect tense, indicating a completed action of not providing food before a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI shows this usage is grammatically correct and appears in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

45%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

5%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had not fed" is a grammatically correct verb phrase in the past perfect tense, used to express the absence of feeding before a particular point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and demonstrates its use in both formal and informal contexts, primarily within scientific and news-related sources. While relatively uncommon, using this phrase precisely communicates a completed action of not providing nourishment. When constructing sentences, ensure it's clear who or what was not fed. Alternatives include phrases like "had not eaten" and "had not nourished", each with subtle differences in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had not eaten

This is a direct synonym, focusing on the act of consuming food, rather than providing it.

had not given food

More explicit and direct in stating the absence of providing food.

had been left unfed

Passive voice emphasizes the state of being without food.

had not nourished

This alternative emphasizes the lack of providing essential nutrients or sustenance.

had not been given anything to eat

A longer, more descriptive way of stating the absence of feeding.

had not supplied nourishment

Emphasizes the act of supplying nourishment.

had been deprived of food

Focuses on the subject experiencing the lack of food, often implying a negative consequence.

had received no sustenance

Focuses on the recipient and their lack of receiving nourishment.

had gone without food

Similar to 'deprived of food' but emphasizes the duration of the lack of food.

had not dispensed food

More formal, focusing on the act of distributing food.

FAQs

How can I use "had not fed" in a sentence?

Use "had not fed" to indicate that someone or something did not provide food in the past. For example: "The mother realized she "had not fed" her baby since morning".

What are some alternatives to saying "had not fed"?

You can use alternatives like "had not eaten", "had not nourished", or "had not given food" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "hadn't fed" instead of "had not fed"?

Yes, "hadn't fed" is a contraction of "had not fed" and is perfectly acceptable in most contexts. It's generally considered more informal.

What is the difference between "had not fed" and "did not feed"?

"Had not fed" implies a past perfect tense, suggesting the action of not feeding occurred before another point in the past. "Did not feed" is simple past tense and simply states that the feeding did not occur at a specific time in the past.