had recently received

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had recently received" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate that something was obtained or acquired not long ago, often in the context of communication or notifications. Example: "She mentioned that she had recently received a promotion at work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

He had recently received treatment for liver cancer.

The Guardian

She had recently received an internal e-mail congratulating her division for meeting its quarterly targets.

The Washington Post

The office was crowded with enrollees who had recently received their I.D. numbers by mail.

The New Yorker

Prayuth had recently received a new Baroque-style chair for his office.

The Guardian

She had recently received bad news about the cancer, and was running out of treatment options.

The New York Times

She was working for a well-respected company and had recently received a raise.

The New York Times

Putin, however, said he had recently received a request signed by Khodorkovsky.

The Guardian

However, Putin said on Thursday he had recently received a request signed by Khodorkovsky.

The Guardian

Last week, Cardinal Egan disclosed that he had recently received a diagnosis of post-polio syndrome.

The New York Times

He said he had recently received a letter from a 29-year-old man in Dallas who had just married.

The New York Times - Books

The gunman's motive remained unclear, but police said the newsroom had recently received threats of violence through social media.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "had recently received", ensure the context clearly indicates what was received and the approximate timeframe. This avoids ambiguity and provides a clear understanding for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "had recently received" when the subsequent action is not clearly linked in the past. Ensure the main clause also uses a past tense to maintain grammatical consistency. For example: Incorrect: "He had recently received a letter, and he goes to the post office." Correct: "He had recently received a letter, and he went to the post office."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had recently received" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect tense. It indicates that an action of receiving occurred in the recent past, prior to another action or time frame also in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

38%

Academia

12%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had recently received" is a grammatically correct and frequently used verb phrase in the past perfect tense. As Ludwig AI confirms, it effectively communicates that an action of receiving occurred in the recent past, before another event in the past. It is commonly found in news, scientific, and academic contexts. When using this phrase, ensure that the timeline and context are clear to avoid ambiguity. Alternatives such as "had lately obtained" or "had newly acquired" can be used to add variety to your writing while maintaining similar meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had lately obtained

Emphasizes the acquisition of something not long ago, using a different verb.

had newly acquired

Highlights the newness of the acquisition.

had just been given

Focuses on the act of being given something.

had lately been awarded

Specific to receiving an award, emphasizing the recognition.

had shortly been granted

Emphasizes the official granting of something.

had not long ago accepted

Focuses on the acceptance of something offered.

had previously been provided with

Highlights that something was furnished or supplied

had earlier taken delivery of

Specific to physically receiving something, often goods.

had enjoyed lately

Highlights a positive experience that occurred not long ago.

had undergone short time ago

Highlights an experience that occurred not long ago.

FAQs

How can I use "had recently received" in a sentence?

Use "had recently received" to indicate that someone obtained something not long ago. For example, "She had recently received a promotion at work."

What can I say instead of "had recently received"?

You can use alternatives like "had lately obtained", "had newly acquired", or "had just been given" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "has recently received" instead of "had recently received"?

The choice between "has recently received" and "had recently received" depends on the context and the timeframe you're referring to. "Has recently received" refers to the present perfect tense, indicating an action that started in the past and continues to have relevance to the present. "Had recently received" refers to the past perfect tense, indicating an action completed before another point in the past.

What's the difference between "had recently received" and "received recently"?

"Had recently received" is in the past perfect tense and emphasizes that the receiving action happened before another event in the past. "Received recently" is a simpler past tense construction, and it simply states that something was received not long ago without necessarily linking it to another past event.