had passed through

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had passed through" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something has gone through a particular place or experience in the past before another event occurred. Example: "By the time we arrived, the storm had passed through the area, leaving behind clear skies."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The bullet had passed through her skull.

The New York Times

The bullet had passed through Keller's forearm.

The New Yorker

Holes marked where bullets had passed through.

The New York Times

Some 5,000 patients had passed through its gates.

Princeton University

This, he said, had passed through three phases.

The Economist

"We had passed through a door," Anderson intones.

The New Yorker

Locals said his entourage had passed through before the raid.

The New York Times

A storm bringing heavy rains had passed through the area.

The Washington Post

Green had passed through security when the evacuation was announced.

The Guardian

By 1910, 27,779 children had passed through its doors.

The New York Times

I felt like the glory train had passed through me".

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had passed through" when you want to emphasize that something or someone has completed a journey, process, or experience before another event occurred. It clearly indicates a past perfect action with a sense of completion.

Common error

Avoid using "had passed through" when the simple past tense ("passed through") is sufficient. The past perfect tense is only necessary when you are referring to an action that was completed before another action in the past. For example, avoid saying "He had passed through the door and then he left" if the sequence doesn't require emphasis on the completion of passing through before leaving.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had passed through" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect tense. It indicates that an action of passing or moving through something was completed before another action or time in the past, as exemplified by Ludwig's examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

52%

Science

28%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had passed through" is a grammatically correct and versatile verb phrase used in the past perfect tense. Ludwig confirms that this phrase is common across various contexts, particularly in News & Media, Science and Academia. It indicates that an action of moving or going through something was completed before another action or time in the past. When using this phrase, ensure that the past perfect tense is appropriate and that the sequence of events is clearly conveyed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had gone through

Replaces "passed" with "gone", implying a completed journey or process.

had moved through

Emphasizes the physical act of moving from one point to another.

had traveled through

Highlights the journey aspect, suitable for geographic or experiential contexts.

had crossed through

Suggests traversing a boundary or obstacle.

had proceeded through

Implies a sequential progression through stages or steps.

had navigated through

Focuses on the skill or effort required to move through something challenging.

had filtered through

Suggests a process of selection or refinement while moving.

had permeated through

Implies a spreading or diffusing movement.

had circulated through

Indicates a cyclical or recurring movement.

had worked through

Highlights the effort exerted to resolve problems or obstacles in a process.

FAQs

How can I use "had passed through" in a sentence?

Use "had passed through" to indicate that something or someone completed a movement or process before another action in the past. For instance, "By the time we arrived, the storm "had passed through" the area."

What are some alternatives to "had passed through"?

Alternatives include "had gone through", "had moved through", or "had traveled through", depending on the specific context.

Is it ever incorrect to use "had passed through"?

Yes, using "had passed through" is incorrect if you only need to describe a simple past action. The past perfect tense implies that the action was completed before another action in the past. If there is no other past action to reference, the simple past tense ("passed through") is more appropriate.

What's the difference between "had passed through" and "passed through"?

"Had passed through" indicates a past action completed before another action in the past (past perfect), while "passed through" simply describes an action that occurred in the past (simple past). For example, "The water "passed through" the filter" vs. "The water "had passed through" the filter before it reached the tank."