had promised to

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had promised to" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate a commitment or assurance made in the past regarding a future action or event. Example: "She had promised to help me with my project before the deadline."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

I had promised to cooperate in 1951.

Cornell University

Sharif had promised to do so but failed to deliver.

Yale University

Correia had promised to end Rousey's reign.

The Guardian - Sport

That was something I had promised to do.

The New York Times - Sports

But he said the Americans had promised to cooperate.

The New York Times

Mr. Buhari had promised to free all of them.

The New York Times

They had promised to pay 900 riyals (£153) per month".

The Guardian

"I thought Fernandinho had promised to stop the killing".

The New Yorker

He did what he had promised to do.

The New Yorker

But I thought he had promised to fix everything.

The Guardian - Business

In April, he had promised to stop buying Aksys shares.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had promised to", ensure that the context makes it clear whether the promise was kept or broken. If the outcome is ambiguous, clarify it to avoid confusion.

Common error

Avoid using "had promised to" when referring to a present or ongoing commitment. Instead, use "promises to" or "is promising to" for current commitments.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had promised to" functions as a past perfect construction indicating a commitment or assurance made at a point in the past prior to another event or time. It's used to set up a condition or expectation that existed earlier.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Academia

20%

Encyclopedias

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

2%

Reference

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had promised to" is a common and grammatically correct phrase used to express a past commitment or assurance. As Ludwig highlights through numerous examples, this phrase is versatile, appearing in news, academic writing, and other contexts. Its primary function is to set up a situation where a prior commitment influences subsequent events. While alternatives such as "pledged to" or "vowed to" exist, the choice depends on the specific nuance you wish to convey. Ensuring proper tense usage and clarity about the fulfillment of the promise are key to effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

pledged to

Emphasizes a firm and often public commitment.

vowed to

Suggests a solemn and determined promise.

committed to

Highlights a dedication or engagement toward a specific action.

guaranteed to

Implies a strong assurance of a particular outcome.

assured that

Focuses on alleviating doubt or concern about a future event.

undertook to

Indicates a formal acceptance of a responsibility or task.

gave an undertaking to

Similar to "undertook to" but emphasizes the act of giving the promise.

agreed to

A more general term indicating consent or willingness to do something.

made a commitment to

Focuses on the act of making a formal or informal pledge.

offered an assurance of

Highlights the act of providing comfort or confidence regarding a future event.

FAQs

How do I use "had promised to" in a sentence?

"Had promised to" indicates a past commitment. For example, "He "had promised to" finish the report by Friday, but he didn't".

What are some alternatives to "had promised to"?

You can use alternatives like "pledged to", "vowed to", or "committed to" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "has promised to" instead of "had promised to"?

The choice depends on the context. "Has promised to" refers to a promise made recently, while ""had promised to"" refers to a promise made further in the past.

What's the difference between "had promised to" and "was supposed to"?

"Had promised to" implies a specific commitment, while "was supposed to" suggests an expectation or plan that may not have been explicitly promised.