had not recovered

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had not recovered" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that someone or something has not returned to a previous state of health, condition, or performance at a specific point in the past. Example: "By the time the meeting started, she had not recovered from her illness and was still feeling weak."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

They had not recovered any weapons as of late Wednesday night.

The New York Times

When Brown began his third term, in 2011, California had not recovered from the Great Recession.

The New Yorker

Germany had not recovered from the cataclysm on a whim and a prayer.

The New York Times

And one dormitory still had not recovered its steam heat on Sunday.

The New York Times

But Schumacher dropped the idea because his neck had not recovered from a motorcycle injury.

The New York Times

11 levels, the gains proved unsustainable as Wall Street began to realize that business had not recovered.

The New York Times

Bonuses for the financial sector specifically had not recovered to their pre-crisis peak however, with about £5bn to go.

Independent

He had not recovered from a stroke he suffered two months ago, his daughter, Sylvia, said in announcing his death.

The New York Times - Books

De Villota said she had not recovered her sense of taste or smell and that she frequently experienced headaches.

The New York Times

Wang apparently had not recovered after severely spraining a ligament and tearing a tendon in his foot last June.

The New York Times - Sports

Italy were without the Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli who, although included in the starting line-up on Thursday, had not recovered from flu.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had not recovered", ensure the context clearly specifies from what the subject has not recovered, such as an illness, an injury, or an economic downturn.

Common error

Avoid using "had not recovered" when the recovery period is ongoing and not yet complete. It's more appropriate for situations where a specific point in time has passed and recovery hasn't occurred.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had not recovered" functions as a past perfect negative verb phrase. It indicates that an action (recovering) did not occur before a specific point in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

41%

News & Media

37%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had not recovered" is a grammatically correct and frequently used past perfect negative verb phrase. As highlighted by Ludwig AI, it's suitable across various contexts to indicate a lack of improvement or return to a previous state by a specific time in the past. Common in scientific and news-related content, it effectively conveys that a condition or situation remained unchanged. For alternative phrasing, consider options like "failed to bounce back" or "still hadn't healed", depending on the nuance you aim to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

failed to bounce back

Emphasizes the lack of a quick return to a previous state or condition.

still hadn't healed

Specifically refers to the absence of physical or emotional healing.

remained unrehabilitated

Highlights the continuing lack of rehabilitation or restoration.

was still ailing

Focuses on the persistence of illness or weakness.

had not returned to normal

Indicates that a situation or entity has not regained its usual state.

continued to struggle

Suggests an ongoing difficulty or effort to recover.

had not turned the corner

Expresses that a critical point of improvement has not been reached.

didn't get better

A simpler, more direct way of saying that there was no improvement.

hadn't made a comeback

Emphasizes the absence of a successful return after a setback.

showed no signs of improvement

Highlights the complete lack of any positive changes.

FAQs

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

You can use "had not recovered" to describe a past state where someone or something didn't return to a previous condition. For example, "By the end of the year, the economy "had not recovered" from the recession."

What are some alternatives to "had not recovered"?

Some alternatives include "failed to bounce back", "still hadn't healed", or "remained unrehabilitated", depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "has not recovered" instead of "had not recovered"?

Yes, "has not recovered" is correct, but it refers to the present perfect tense, indicating something that started in the past and continues to the present. "Had not recovered" is in the past perfect tense, indicating something that was not completed by a certain point in the past.

What's the difference between "had not recovered" and "did not recover"?

"Had not recovered" implies a specific point in the past by which recovery was expected but didn't happen, whereas "did not recover" is a simple past tense statement that recovery didn't occur. For example, "By then, he "had not recovered"", versus "He "did not recover" from the illness".