had struck

USAGE SUMMARY

"had struck" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when speaking of something that happened before another event in the past. For example: "By the time the fire brigade arrived, the building had struck by lightning and was engulfed in flames."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Literature

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

The Curse had struck again.

Independent

By noon, disaster had struck.

The New York Times

Moomin madness had struck.

The Guardian - Books

Santi Cazorla had struck Dortmund's crossbar.

The New York Times - Sports

He assumed the teachers had struck them.

The New York Times

Lightning had struck.

The New York Times - Sports

Lately, something else had struck him.

The New Yorker

The first plane had struck.

The Guardian

Like Roberto, they had struck gold.

The New York Times

Mr. Liefers had struck a nerve.

The New York Times

The City Hall curse had struck again.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "had struck" to clearly establish a sequence of events in the past, ensuring the action described by "struck" occurred before another stated event.

Common error

Avoid using "had struck" when referring to present or future events. This phrase is strictly for actions completed in the past before another point in the past.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "had struck" functions as a past perfect verb, indicating an action completed before another point in the past. As noted by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct. The examples show its use in describing events that occurred before a subsequent event.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

58%

Sports

20%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Science

5%

Wiki

4%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "had struck" is a grammatically correct and frequently used past perfect verb phrase, as confirmed by Ludwig. Its primary function is to indicate that an action occurred before another event in the past. It is commonly found in news, sports reporting, and literature. To ensure correct usage, remember that "had struck" should only be used when referring to actions completed in the past, before another point in the past, and ensure you are not confusing this with the present perfect tense "has struck". By understanding its function and context, writers can effectively use "had struck" to convey precise timing and sequencing in their narratives.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

had impacted

Replaces "struck" with a broader term indicating influence or effect.

had affected

Similar to "impacted", but emphasizes the emotional or tangible consequence.

had hit

A more literal replacement for "struck", suitable in physical contexts.

had landed

Indicates the arrival or culmination of something.

had come to

Suggests a result or outcome that was reached.

had materialized

Indicates something has become real or apparent.

had unfolded

Suggests the process of something being revealed or happening.

had transpired

A formal way of saying something happened or occurred.

had befallen

Indicates something negative or unfortunate has happened.

had reached

Suggests the attainment of a certain condition or state.

FAQs

How can I use "had struck" in a sentence?

Use "had struck" to indicate that an action of striking occurred before another event in the past. For example, "By the time rescuers arrived, lightning "had struck" the building."

What are some alternatives to "had struck"?

Depending on the context, you could use phrases like "had impacted", "had affected", or "had hit" to convey similar meanings.

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

"Had struck" is in the past perfect tense, indicating an action completed before another point in the past, while "struck" (in the simple past tense) indicates a single action in the past. The sentence "The clock struck midnight" means the clock made a sound, while the sentence "The clock "had struck" midnight" sets up another action that came afterwards.

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

No, "has struck" is present perfect tense and indicates an action that started in the past and continues to the present or has relevance to the present. "Had struck" is past perfect and always refers to events completed before another point in the past.