had shown

USAGE SUMMARY

"had shown" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It is used to indicate an action or event that happened before another past action or event. This can be referred to as the past perfect tense. Example: Sarah had shown impressive leadership skills before she was promoted to manager.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

He had shown restraint.

The New Yorker

Grady had shown him.

The New Yorker

He had shown leadership.

The New York Times - Magazine

About four hundred people had shown up.

The New Yorker

He objected that he had shown some.

The Economist

Some 58% had shown perceptible improvement.

The Economist

Perhaps someone had shown her a script.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

"We had shown them our commitment".

The New York Times - Sports

About eighty people had shown up.

The New Yorker

Jesus had shown the people their evildoing.

The New York Times - Magazine

Preliminary estimates had shown growth of 2.6 percent.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had shown" to clearly establish a sequence of events in the past, ensuring the action described by "had shown" occurred before another action mentioned in the sentence. This helps avoid ambiguity and clarifies the timeline for the reader.

Common error

Avoid using "had shown" when a simple past tense is sufficient. Overusing the past perfect can make your writing sound stilted or unnatural. Use it only when necessary to clarify that one action preceded another in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had shown" functions as the past perfect tense of the verb "show", indicating an action that was completed before another action in the past. This helps to establish a clear sequence of events. Ludwig AI confirms the grammatical correctness and usability of this phrase.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Science

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had shown" is a versatile and grammatically sound phrase used to establish a clear past perfect tense. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in various contexts. Its primary function is to clarify the sequence of past events, ensuring the reader understands which action occurred before another. While common across diverse sources like The New York Times and The Guardian, overusing the past perfect can make your writing sound unnatural, thus you should ensure that is necessary to clarify the sequence of events in the past. Remember to select the most contextually appropriate alternative, such as "had demonstrated" or "had indicated", when aiming for subtle variations in meaning.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had demonstrated

Emphasizes the act of clearly proving or exhibiting something through actions or evidence.

had indicated

Focuses on pointing out or suggesting something without explicitly stating it.

had revealed

Highlights the act of making something known that was previously secret or unknown.

had displayed

Stresses the act of visibly presenting or exhibiting something.

had exhibited

Similar to 'displayed' but often used in more formal or technical contexts.

had manifested

Focuses on how something intangible becomes apparent or tangible.

had proven

Emphasizes the establishment of something as true or factual through evidence.

had established

Highlights the act of setting up or demonstrating something firmly or permanently.

had confirmed

Focuses on verifying or validating something that was previously uncertain.

had reflected

Indicates that something mirrored or represented a particular quality or characteristic.

FAQs

How is "had shown" used in a sentence?

"Had shown" indicates an action completed before another action in the past. For example, "She "had shown" her work before the deadline arrived" means the showing happened first.

What are some alternatives to using "had shown"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "had demonstrated", "had indicated", or "had revealed". The best choice depends on the nuance you want to convey.

Is there a difference between "had shown" and "showed"?

Yes, "had shown" is past perfect, indicating an action completed before another past action. "Showed" is simple past, indicating a single action in the past. For example, "She "had shown" her ID before she entered" versus "She showed her ID at the entrance."

When is it appropriate to use "had shown" instead of "showed"?

Use "had shown" when you need to emphasize that one action was completed before another past action. If the sequence is clear from context or not important, "showed" is sufficient. For instance, "By the time the police arrived, the thief "had shown" his true colors" versus "The thief showed his true colors."