had picked up

USAGE SUMMARY

'had picked up' is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
It implies that something was done in the past and has been completed. For example: "I had picked up the groceries before I realised I had forgotten the milk."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

A hurried pace had picked up again.

The New York Times

He had picked up the wrong line.

The New Yorker

Elaine had picked up the tab.

The New York Times

Unless all had picked up knocks.

The Guardian - Sport

Services exports growth had picked up moderately".

The Guardian - Business

Somebody had picked up the receiver at the other end.

The New Yorker

He had picked up Morales in the cafeteria.

The New Yorker

It seemed no one had picked up the bacteria.

The New York Times - Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Only four people had picked up the freebies during the first week of renovations.

Princeton University

Henderson had picked up his first in the third quarter.

The New York Times - Sports

It was a habit he had picked up in Cambridge.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had picked up" to indicate an action of obtaining, learning, or noticing that was completed before another point in the past. For example, "She had picked up several new skills before starting her new job."

Common error

Avoid using "had picked up" when the action is still ongoing or relevant in the present. Instead, use "has picked up" or "have picked up" for present perfect tense to show an action that started in the past and continues to the present, or "picked up" for simple past tense.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had picked up" functions as a past perfect verb phrase. It signifies an action that was completed before another point in time in the past. Ludwig AI confirms this functionality through its analysis of numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had picked up" is a versatile past perfect verb phrase indicating that an action of acquiring, learning, or noticing was completed before another point in the past. As Ludwig AI highlights, it's grammatically correct and commonly used across diverse contexts, including news, academia, and science. When using this phrase, remember that it establishes a sequence of events in the past. Avoid misusing it in present contexts. To ensure accuracy, consider the context and choose related phrases like "had acquired" or "had learned" when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had acquired

Focuses on the gaining of knowledge or a skill.

had learned

Specifically refers to gaining knowledge through study or experience.

had gained

Emphasizes the act of obtaining something, whether tangible or intangible.

had obtained

Similar to 'gained', but suggests a more formal or deliberate process of acquisition.

had developed

Implies a gradual process of growth or improvement in a skill or attribute.

had started to

Highlights the commencement of picking up something, rather than the completion.

had begun to

Similar to 'started to', indicating the initial phase of acquisition.

had come to possess

Emphasizes the idea of gaining ownership or control of something.

had taken on

Suggests assuming a responsibility or task.

had risen

Focuses on an increase in level, amount, or intensity.

FAQs

How can I use "had picked up" in a sentence?

Use "had picked up" to describe an action of acquiring something, either tangible or intangible, that was completed before another point in the past. For example: "By the time I arrived, she "had picked up" all the groceries."

What are some alternatives to "had picked up"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "had acquired", "had learned", or "had gained".

Is "had picked up" grammatically correct?

Yes, "had picked up" is grammatically correct. It is the past perfect form of the verb phrase "pick up", indicating an action completed before another point in the past.

What's the difference between "had picked up" and "picked up"?

"Had picked up" is past perfect, indicating an action completed before another past action. "Picked up" is simple past, indicating a completed action in the past. For example: "She "picked up" the phone" (simple past) vs. "She "had picked up" the phone before it rang a second time" (past perfect).