had once shared

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had once shared" is a perfectly valid and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when referring to a past event that was shared, either by two or more people or by yourself from a previous moment in time. For example: "It was a moment in time I had once shared with my best friend."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

They too had once shared a lover.

The New York Times - Books

The two men had once shared ownership of a racehorse, and had counted themselves good friends.

The New Yorker

In the 19th century, producers and consumers, who had once shared the same village, became separated for the first time.

The Economist

Mrs Dalloway's mind turned to matters of love and that first kiss she had once shared with Sally Seton.

The Guardian - Books

The latter insisted he had never met Lawrence but it turned out that they had once shared a tent--Lawrence disguised as an Arab.

The New Yorker

He recalled reading the story about Joyce in a newspaper, but didn't connect it to the Joyce with whom he had once shared a house for a while.

The Guardian - Film

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

41 human-written examples

Let's be clear – booing is not pleasant, and having once shared a stage with a booed poet, I know as much as I want to about that.

The Guardian - Opinion

He is also familiar with the actor's struggle, having once shared with The Orlando Sentinel his most embarrassing moment: "Getting edited out of a Bennigan's commercial after telling everyone to watch for it".

The New York Times

Although some of your friends seem to be situated in the much-coveted place, the chambers of your heart, it is sufficient for me to have once shared the same rhythmic heartbeat with you.

Huffington Post

The current subtelomeric sequences may have once shared homology that is now unrecognizable because of RIP and evolutionary divergence.

Epigenetics and Chromatin

Although Fonda had performed in a few amateur productions as a student — she had once even shared a summer-stock stage with her father — she didn't feel driven to act until she was admitted to one of Strasberg's New York acting classes.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had once shared" to clearly indicate that a shared experience or possession occurred in the past and is no longer the case, adding a sense of nostalgia or change.

Common error

Avoid using "had once shared" when describing current, ongoing situations. This phrase specifically refers to a past state, and using it for present scenarios can create confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had once shared" functions as a past perfect verb phrase, indicating a completed action or state in the past, prior to another past event. This structure is used to establish a sequence of events, emphasizing that the sharing occurred before something else. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and provides several examples of its usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

80%

Formal & Business

10%

Science

10%

Less common in

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had once shared" is a grammatically sound past perfect phrase used to describe a past shared experience or possession that no longer exists. According to Ludwig AI, it's correct and usable in various contexts. While most common in News & Media, it also appears in Formal & Business and Scientific sources. Its purpose is to narrate past relationships or experiences, emphasizing that a connection existed but is now over. Remember to use this phrase to denote a clear break from a past state to avoid confusion, and consider alternatives like "shared in the past" for simpler contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

shared in the past

A more direct and simple way of saying something was shared before.

had experienced together

Highlights the mutual experience in the past.

previously co-experienced

Emphasizes the shared experience happening at an earlier time.

formerly had in common

Highlights the commonality that existed in the past but no longer does.

used to mutually possess

Focuses on the past mutual possession or holding of something.

at one time both held

Indicates a past period where both parties held or possessed something.

once jointly owned

Specifically refers to a previous joint ownership of something.

had co-ownership

Focuses on the aspect of ownership and specifies it was together.

were once partners in

Emphasizes a past partnership in a shared venture or experience.

formerly partook in

Suggests a formal or significant past sharing or participation.

FAQs

How can I use "had once shared" in a sentence?

You can use "had once shared" to describe a past experience, feeling, or possession that is no longer current. For example, "They "had once shared" a dream of opening a restaurant together, but their paths diverged."

What are some alternatives to "had once shared"?

Alternatives include "shared in the past", "previously co-experienced", or "formerly had in common", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "have once shared" instead of "had once shared"?

No, "have once shared" uses the present perfect tense, implying the sharing has relevance to the present. "Had once shared" uses the past perfect, indicating the sharing occurred and concluded in the past with no present relevance.

What's the difference between "had once shared" and "used to share"?

"Used to share" implies a repeated or habitual action in the past, while ""had once shared"" suggests a single or specific instance of sharing in the past that is now over.