had put on

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had put on" is grammatically correct and commonly used in written English.
It is the past perfect tense form of the verb phrase "to put on," indicating that an action had already been completed before another past event. Example: She had put on her jacket before leaving the house.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

She had put on weight.

The New Yorker

Charlie had put on weight.

The New Yorker

But he had put on weight.

The New York Times - Sports

"I had put on a lot of weight," he said.

The New York Times

I was trying to see which tag they had put on me.

The Guardian

These were the socks that he had put on yesterday morning in Moscow.

The New Yorker

I had put on sunscreen.

Vice

Dvoran plugged a drain line that Wadsworth had put on his property, the records say.

Los Angeles Times

I had put on sunscreen my mom had taught me well.

Vice

"For one month, in one year, someone had put on one poster site a beautiful picture.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

The bikers had put on a show the likes of which she had never seen.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a completed action in the past relative to another past event, use "had put on" to clearly establish the sequence. For instance, "She had put on her shoes before she went outside" clarifies that the act of putting on shoes occurred before going outside.

Common error

Avoid using "put on" in contexts requiring present perfect or simple past tenses. "She has put on weight" (present perfect) describes a current state resulting from a past action, whereas "she put on her coat" (simple past) describes a single past action. Using "had put on" implies a prior action influencing a subsequent past event.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had put on" functions as a past perfect verb phrase, indicating an action completed before another action in the past. It is used to establish a sequence of events, as shown in Ludwig examples, making it clear that one action preceded another.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Formal & Business

26%

Science

12%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had put on" is a past perfect verb phrase used to indicate an action completed before another action in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and common usage across various contexts, particularly in News & Media. When looking for alternatives, consider options like "had donned" or "had gained", depending on the specific meaning you want to convey. When using, ensure that you use "had put on" to clearly establish the sequence of past events, avoiding confusion with present tenses.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had donned

Replaces "put on" with a more formal verb, implying a deliberate act of wearing something.

had dressed in

Focuses on the clothing that was worn.

had applied

Suitable when referring to creams, makeup, or other substances spread onto a surface.

had layered on

Implies putting on multiple items of clothing or substances.

had gained

Used specifically when referring to an increase in weight.

had staged

Applies to events, performances, or shows that were organized and presented.

had presented

Similar to 'staged', but can also refer to presenting an idea or proposal.

had equipped themselves with

Highlights the act of preparing with necessary gear or items.

had arranged

Similar to 'staged', but focuses on the act of organizing or setting something up.

had set up

Focuses on the act of establishing or preparing something for use or display.

FAQs

How is "had put on" different from "put on"?

"Put on" in the simple past tense describes an action that happened at a specific time in the past. "Had put on" is in the past perfect tense, describing an action completed before another action in the past. For example, "She put on her coat and left" versus "She "had put on" her coat before she left".

When should I use "had put on" instead of "has put on"?

"Has put on" is present perfect, indicating an action completed at an unspecified time before now, often with a present result. "Had put on" is past perfect, indicating an action completed before another point in the past. For instance, "She has put on weight recently" versus "She "had put on" weight before the holidays".

What are some alternatives to "had put on" when describing weight gain?

Instead of "had put on weight", you could say "had gained weight", "had increased in weight", or "had become heavier", depending on the context and desired level of formality.

Is it correct to say "had put on" in formal writing?

Yes, "had put on" is grammatically correct and appropriate for formal writing, especially when you need to establish a clear sequence of past events. It is commonly used in news reports, academic papers, and business documents.