had previously agreed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had previously agreed" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that an agreement was made at an earlier time before the current context or discussion. Example: "The two parties had previously agreed on the terms of the contract before any negotiations began."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Home Products had previously agreed to be bought by JRT Acquisition Inc. for $1.50 a share.

The New York Times

The G8 finance ministers had previously agreed on these measures, and Wolfowitz enthusiastically endorsed them.

The New Yorker

The administration had previously agreed to allow exemptions for some religious employers.

The New York Times

Mr. Bon Jovi had previously agreed to take on a recurring role in "Ally McBeal".

The New York Times - Arts

Spain had previously agreed to accept a Yemeni and a Palestinian.

The New York Times

Dr. Armendariz had previously agreed to serve as a witness at the subcommittee hearing.

The New York Times

Diamond had previously agreed to acquire the Pringles brand from Procter & Gamble.

The New York Times

The union and the league had previously agreed on a player-financed pension.

The New York Times - Sports

She had previously agreed to pay the Securities and Exchange Commission $540,000.

The New York Times

But Diamond had previously agreed to acquire the Pringles brand from Procter & Gamble.

The New York Times

Retail Acquisitions had previously agreed that all funds raised by the sale of BHS assets would remain in the business.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use “had previously agreed” when indicating a state of agreement that existed before a certain event in the past.

Common error

Avoid using "has previously agreed" when referring to an agreement fully completed in the past. Stick to the past perfect tense ("had previously agreed") to maintain grammatical accuracy.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had previously agreed" functions as a past perfect verb phrase, indicating an action (agreeing) that was completed before a specific point in the past. Ludwig confirms that it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

88%

Science

7%

Wiki

3%

Less common in

Formal & Business

2%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had previously agreed" is a grammatically correct past perfect verb phrase used to indicate that an agreement occurred before a specific time in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is broadly applicable and used across various contexts. This phrase is particularly common in news and media, as well as formal business settings, where it serves to provide background or context related to earlier arrangements. When writing, ensure you maintain accuracy by using the past perfect tense to avoid grammatical errors. Remember, using alternatives like "had formerly agreed" or "had already agreed" can provide a slight variation in meaning but the core idea is about a previous deal.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had formerly agreed

Replaces "previously" with "formerly", suggesting a more distant time in the past when the agreement was made.

had earlier agreed

Substitutes "previously" with "earlier", indicating the agreement occurred at a prior time.

had originally agreed

Replaces "previously" with "originally", emphasizing that this was the initial agreement, which might have changed since.

had already agreed

Uses "already" instead of "previously" to stress that the agreement was in place before a specific point in time.

had consented beforehand

Replaces "agreed" with "consented beforehand", adding a slightly more formal tone and emphasizing prior consent.

had concurred earlier

Uses "concurred" to replace "agreed" adding a formal register, and "earlier" to signal past occurrence.

had settled before

Replaces "agreed" with "settled", indicating a formal resolution or agreement reached at an earlier time.

had determined previously

Uses "determined" instead of "agreed", suggesting a more deliberate or official decision made in the past.

had negotiated beforehand

Replaces "agreed" with "negotiated", highlighting that a negotiation process took place before the agreement.

had arranged in advance

Uses "arranged" instead of "agreed", focusing on the preparatory actions taken to set up the agreement.

FAQs

What does "had previously agreed" mean?

The phrase "had previously agreed" indicates that an agreement was reached at some point in the past, prior to the time currently being discussed. It emphasizes that the agreement is not new or current.

What are some alternatives to "had previously agreed"?

You can use alternatives like "had formerly agreed", "had earlier agreed", or "had already agreed" depending on the nuance you want to convey.

How do I use "had previously agreed" in a sentence?

Example: "The parties "had previously agreed" on the terms of the contract, but new issues arose during the implementation phase."

Is it correct to say "has previously agreed" instead of "had previously agreed"?

No, "has previously agreed" is generally incorrect when referring to an agreement fully completed in the past. The correct tense is past perfect ""had previously agreed"".