had previously obtained

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had previously obtained" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was acquired or received at an earlier time before a specific point in the past. Example: "The researchers had previously obtained the necessary data before starting the analysis."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

The lawsuit was settled last week, lifting sanctions for builders who had previously obtained water permits.

The New York Times

Ms Willis had previously obtained a non-molestation order against her former lover.

Independent

Lawyers for Giggs had previously obtained a High Court order asking Twitter to reveal details of users who had revealed his identity after thousands named him in recent days.

The Guardian

Leslie Crocker Snyder, one of the candidates, held a press conference with Stanley Patz, Etan's father — who had previously obtained a default wrongful-death judgment against Ramos in civil court — and she pledged that "as district attorney, I will work to insure that justice is finally served in this tragic case".

The New Yorker

Lyft had previously obtained insurance that covered any incident when a passenger was in a car.

TechCrunch

We had previously obtained the EfTS crystal structure of the protein in complex with the metabolite 5-formyl-tetrahydrofolate (5-FTHF) suggesting the protein role as metabolite reservoir; however, protein inhibitors complexes were still missing.

European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

Having previously obtained an extra set of clean sheets [$20 — laundry], I traded these and my silence for L.'s superior berth.

The New Yorker

end.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

We have previously obtained successful results from our 3′ and internal exon exchange experiments using a minigene target in cell cultures.

Neuromuscular Disorders

We have previously obtained successful results from our 3′ exon exchange and first internal exon exchange experiments and continue to develop the internal exon exchange technique further.

Neuromuscular Disorders

In addition, please confirm with us that in the future you will not scrape or otherwise attempt to obtain in any manner information from our website except as permitted by our Terms of Use, and that you will immediately delete and not use in any manner any such information you may have previously obtained.

TechCrunch

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had previously obtained", ensure the context clearly establishes the earlier time frame to avoid ambiguity. For example, "Before the experiment began, the researchers had previously obtained all necessary ethical approvals."

Common error

Avoid using "had previously obtained" when a simple past tense is sufficient and clearer. For example, instead of "He had previously obtained the information, so he knew the answer," consider "He obtained the information earlier, so he knew the answer" or "He already knew the answer."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had previously obtained" functions as a past perfect verb phrase, indicating an action of acquiring or receiving something that was completed before another action or point in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, this is a grammatically sound structure.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

Science

40%

News & Media

36%

Wiki

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "had previously obtained" is a grammatically correct past perfect phrase used to indicate that something was acquired or received before a specific time in the past. As Ludwig AI points out, it's a sound grammatical structure, predominantly found in scientific publications, news media and wiki sources. When writing, ensure you clearly establish the earlier timeframe to avoid ambiguity and to make sure not to use the tense incorrectly. Alternatives such as "had earlier secured" or "had already gotten" may be suitable depending on the desired level of formality and the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had formerly acquired

Replaces "previously" with "formerly", suggesting a more distant time in the past and uses synonym "acquired".

had earlier secured

Substitutes "previously obtained" with "earlier secured", emphasizing the effort to obtain something before.

had initially secured

Replaces "previously" with "initially", emphasizing it was the start of the process. And uses synonym "secured".

had already gotten

Uses "already gotten" instead of "previously obtained", making it more informal.

had in the past procured

Replaces "previously obtained" with "in the past procured", using a more formal and less common word for 'obtained'.

had once possessed

Replaces "previously obtained" with "once possessed", indicating past ownership.

had at one time received

Substitutes "previously obtained" with "at one time received", emphasizing the act of receiving.

had held before

Uses "held before" instead of "previously obtained", suggesting a position or title.

had been granted earlier

Replaces "previously obtained" with "been granted earlier", emphasizing that something was officially given.

had once been given

Focuses on the act of being given something in the past, replacing "obtained".

FAQs

What does "had previously obtained" mean?

The phrase "had previously obtained" means that something was acquired or received at an earlier time before a specific point in the past. It uses the past perfect tense to emphasize the completion of the action before another point in time.

What are some alternatives to "had previously obtained"?

You can use alternatives such as "had earlier secured", "had already gotten", or "had formerly acquired" depending on the context.

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

To use "had previously obtained" correctly, ensure you're referring to an action completed before another past action. For example, "By the time the audit started, the company had previously obtained all necessary certifications."

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

No, "has previously obtained" uses the present perfect tense, which is incorrect if you are referring to an action completed before another past action. "Had previously obtained" is the correct past perfect form in such cases.