had sensed

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "had sensed" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to indicate a past perception or awareness that occurred before another past event. Example: "She had sensed something was wrong before he even spoke."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Sports

Travel

Opinion

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

He had sensed the diffusion of interest.

The New Yorker

I had sensed cela for some time.

The Guardian - Books

Many American officers had sensed trouble ahead.

The New York Times

From childhood she had sensed her separateness.

The Guardian - Books

Seems like I had sensed it all before.

The New Yorker

Baffert had sensed that Garcia wanted to expand his business.

The New York Times - Sports

The others in the circle had sensed this obligation.

The New York Times - Sports

Simon Grayson, the Leeds manager, had sensed the nervousness.

Independent

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

3 human-written examples

Even opponents have sensed it.

The New York Times - Sports

The beauty industry has sensed my weariness.

The New York Times

Ghaddour must have sensed my skepticism.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider alternatives such as "had felt" or "had perceived" for subtle differences in meaning.

Common error

Avoid using "had sensed" to describe present feelings. This phrase is specific to the past perfect tense, indicating a completed action before another point in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had sensed" functions as a past perfect verb phrase, indicating a completed action or feeling before another point in time in the past. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and usable status, highlighting its role in establishing a sequence of past events.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

64%

Sports

13%

Academia

6%

Less common in

Travel

2%

Books

2%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "had sensed" is a grammatically sound and widely used past perfect verb phrase, deployed to express a pre-existing feeling or awareness preceding a subsequent event in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, its versatility allows it to fit seamlessly into diverse contexts, from news reports to academic analyses, and its meaning remains consistent. When choosing an alternative, consider nuances between phrases like "had felt", "had perceived", or "had detected".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had felt

Emphasizes an emotional or intuitive impression.

had perceived

Implies a more conscious awareness or understanding.

had suspected

Implies a belief or hunch without concrete proof.

had detected

Focuses on the discovery of something, often subtle or hidden.

had intuited

Focuses on a knowing that arises from instinct rather than reason.

had recognized

Highlights the identification of something already known or familiar.

had noticed

Suggests a casual or incidental observation.

had anticipated

Indicates foreseeing or expecting something before it happens.

had gathered

Suggests forming an impression based on available information.

had understood

Highlights a mental grasp or comprehension of something.

FAQs

How is "had sensed" used in a sentence?

"Had sensed" is used to describe a feeling or awareness someone experienced prior to another event in the past. For example: "He "had sensed" danger before the alarm sounded."

What's a good alternative to "had sensed"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "had felt", "had perceived", or "had detected".

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

No, "has sensed" is present perfect tense, while "had sensed" is past perfect. Use "has sensed" for actions that started in the past and continue to the present, and "had sensed" for actions completed before another point in the past.

What is the difference between "had sensed" and "felt"?

"Felt" is simple past tense, indicating a feeling experienced at a specific time in the past. "Had sensed" indicates a feeling or awareness that occurred before another past event.