had quit

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had quit" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate that someone stopped doing something before a certain point in the past. Example: "By the time the meeting started, she had quit her job."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

He had quit".

The New York Times - Sports

His line cook had quit.

The New York Times

Others had quit.

The New York Times - Sports

She had quit.

The Guardian - Film

A. I had quit smoking during "Eraserhead".

The New York Times - Arts

Rowan had quit smoking ten months earlier.

The New Yorker

Within months, he had quit basketball.

The New Yorker

Beard said that he had quit collecting.

The New Yorker

"I had quit my job," she said.

The New York Times

He had quit the race.

The Guardian - Sport

By this time, Lolli had quit school.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had quit" to clearly indicate that an action was terminated before another point in time. For example, "By the time the investigation began, the suspect had quit his job."

Common error

Avoid using "had quit" when the simple past tense ("quit") suffices. "Had quit" implies a sequence of events in the past, where one action was completed before another.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had quit" functions as the past perfect tense of the verb 'to quit'. It indicates that an action of stopping or leaving something was completed before another action or time in the past. Ludwig AI confirms that the examples show clear and grammatically correct usage.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Reference

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had quit" is a grammatically correct and commonly used past perfect construction used to indicate that an action of stopping something happened before another point in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, examples are correct and very common across various domains, including news media, science, and formal business contexts. Remember to use "had quit" when you need to emphasize the sequence of past events and to choose it over alternatives such as "had resigned" or "had given up", depending on the specific context. Avoid using it when simple past tense would suffice.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had resigned

Implies a formal departure from a position or role.

had abandoned

Suggests leaving something behind, often with a negative connotation.

had relinquished

Indicates a formal surrender of something, like a right or claim.

had ceased

Means to have stopped or discontinued an action or state.

had given up

Implies a loss of hope or effort in continuing something.

had withdrawn

Suggests removing oneself from a situation or activity.

had stepped down

Refers specifically to leaving a position of authority or leadership.

had discontinued

Implies stopping a process or service.

had backed out

Indicates a retraction from a commitment or agreement.

had deserted

Suggests abandoning a duty or responsibility, often in a disloyal way.

FAQs

How do I use "had quit" in a sentence?

Use "had quit" to indicate that an action of quitting occurred before another action or point in time in the past. For example, "She "had quit" her job before she moved to another country".

What are some alternatives to "had quit"?

Alternatives include "had resigned", "had abandoned", or "had given up", depending on the specific context and nuance you want to convey.

Is it ever correct to say "quitted" instead of "quit" with the auxiliary verb "had"?

While "quit" is the standard past participle of the verb "quit", "quitted" is an archaic form. In modern English, it's more common and generally preferred to use "had quit". Using "had quitted" may sound unusual to native speakers.

What's the difference between "had quit" and "quit"?

"Had quit" is in the past perfect tense, indicating an action completed before another point in the past. "Quit" in the simple past tense describes an action that occurred at a specific time in the past. For example, "She quit her job yesterday" versus "She "had quit" her job before she went on vacation".