had not forgotten

USAGE SUMMARY

"had not forgotten" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to an action or something that did not happen in the past. For example: "She had not forgotten the important meeting date, so she arrived on time."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

He had not forgotten her.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

The crows had not forgotten.

The New York Times - Science

Ms. Brown had not forgotten.

The New York Times

I had not forgotten that death.

The Guardian - Books

But the United States government had not forgotten about him.

The New York Times

Barclays' senior Euribor submitter: "No problem, I had not forgotten.

The New York Times

Mr. Ibe had not forgotten his dreams, either.

The New York Times

Italy also had not forgotten the experiences of the Spanish Civil War.

Yale University

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

I hadn't forgotten her.

The New Yorker

His survivors hadn't forgotten.

The New York Times

He hadn't forgotten those blue dots.

Columbia University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had not forgotten" to emphasize the continuous state of remembering something, especially when contrasting it with forgetting. For example, "Despite the years, she "had not forgotten" the promise she made".

Common error

Avoid using "had not forgotten" when a simple past tense is more appropriate. "Didn't forget" is often sufficient if the emphasis on past perfect continuous isn't necessary. Instead of: "She "had not forgotten" to buy milk yesterday", say: "She didn't forget to buy milk yesterday".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had not forgotten" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect tense, indicating that the act of not forgetting was completed before another point in the past. Ludwig examples showcase its utility in conveying a state of continuous remembrance.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had not forgotten" is a grammatically correct and frequently used verb phrase in the past perfect tense. According to Ludwig, it primarily serves to emphasize that someone continuously remembered something up to a specific point in the past. It's found most often in news and media contexts, with a neutral register making it versatile for various writing situations. While alternatives such as "had remembered" or "had kept in mind" exist, "had not forgotten" uniquely highlights the ongoing state of remembrance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had remembered

Direct synonym, indicating that something was recalled.

had not dismissed

Implies that something was kept in mind and not disregarded.

had kept in mind

Focuses on the act of intentionally holding something in one's thoughts.

had not overlooked

Suggests that something was considered and not missed.

had borne in mind

More formal way of saying 'had kept in mind'.

had not ignored

Indicates that something was paid attention to, rather than disregarded.

had not neglected

Suggests that something received appropriate attention and care.

had not buried the hatchet

Implies holding onto a grudge.

had not let go of

Emphasizes the act of still possessing a feeling or idea.

had committed to memory

Highlights that effort was put in to actively remember something.

FAQs

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

Use "had not forgotten" to indicate that someone remembered something from the past. Example: "Even after many years, he "had not forgotten" his first love."

What are some alternatives to "had not forgotten"?

You can use alternatives like "had remembered", "had not dismissed", or "had kept in mind" depending on the context.

Is it always necessary to use "had not forgotten", or can I use "didn't forget"?

Using "had not forgotten" emphasizes that the act of remembering has been continuous from a point in the past until now. "Didn't forget" is simpler and suitable when continuous remembrance isn't the focus.

What's the difference between "had not forgotten" and "had not remembered"?

"Had not forgotten" implies an ongoing state of remembering, while "had not remembered" suggests a failure to recall something at a specific point. The former emphasizes a continuous state, the latter a specific instance.