we had evolved

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "we had evolved" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to indicate a change or development that has occurred over time, often in a context discussing growth or progress. Example: "Over the years, we had evolved from a small startup into a leading company in our industry."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

12 human-written examples

Imagine that we had evolved from reptiles instead of mammals.

The New York Times - Science

Those of us involved in promoting Holocaust remembrance thought that we had evolved since then.

The New York Times

We had evolved enough to shed traditional roles and aspire to an egalitarian relationship, but that didn't solve the problem of nobody liking the drudgery of household chores, particularly the never-ending laundry and dishwashing.

The New York Times - Style

By that time, we had evolved into a full suite of digital marketing solutions for small businesses and mid-sized businesses, search engine marketing, video ads, as well as placements on local online directories.

Harvard Business Review

AT&T has not tried lately "to define the totality of who we are," Ms. Lee said, adding that research among consumers found that "people understood we had evolved, but there wasn't enough acknowledgment of us being an innovative company".

The New York Times

For the neurotensin receptor 1, a G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), we had evolved a mutant with a 10-fold increase in functional expression that largely retains wild-type binding and signaling properties and shows higher stability in detergent-solubilized form.

Journal of Molecular Biology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

48 human-written examples

"We've evolved," he added.

The New York Times

We have evolved.

The New York Times

We have evolved to need coercion.

The New York Times

We have evolved through various phases.

The Guardian

We've evolved for speedy repair.

Stanford University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "we had evolved" to emphasize a completed process of development or change that occurred before a specific point in time. For example, "By the time the new regulations were implemented, we had evolved our strategies to align with them."

Common error

Avoid shifting tenses inconsistently when using "we had evolved". Ensure the rest of the sentence and surrounding text maintain the past perfect or past simple tense to avoid confusion. For instance, do not say "We had evolved our systems, and now it is more efficient"; instead, maintain past tense: "We had evolved our systems, and it was more efficient."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "we had evolved" functions as a verb phrase in the past perfect tense. According to Ludwig, it indicates a completed action or state of development before a specific point in the past. The examples show its use in various contexts, from personal relationships to business transformations.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Academia

6%

Encyclopedias

2%

Wiki

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "we had evolved" is a past perfect verb phrase used to describe a completed process of development or transformation prior to a specific point in the past. Ludwig's analysis indicates that this phrase is grammatically correct and most frequently appears in news and media contexts, but also in science and formal business settings. While alternatives like "we had developed" or "we had progressed" exist, the specific choice depends on the nuance you wish to convey. Remember to maintain consistent tense throughout your writing when using this phrase to avoid grammatical errors.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

we underwent evolution

Rephrases the concept with "evolution" as a noun, emphasizing the process itself rather than the result.

we had developed

Highlights a process of growth and maturation, suggesting the emergence of new capabilities or features.

we have progressed

Focuses on forward movement and advancement, suggesting steady improvement rather than a completed evolution.

we had advanced

Highlights the improvement in skill, knowledge, or status

we had transformed

Emphasizes a complete change in form or appearance, possibly more drastic than a gradual evolution.

we had matured

Implies reaching a state of full development or completion, often associated with gaining wisdom or experience.

we had grown

Focuses on an increase in size, number, or extent, suggesting expansion or enlargement over time.

we shifted our paradigm

Emphasizes a fundamental change in approach, attitude, or understanding.

we've come a long way

Idiomatic expression indicating significant progress or advancement over a considerable period.

we reformed our practices

Focuses on a reorganization of established methods or behaviors.

FAQs

How can I use "we had evolved" in a sentence?

Use "we had evolved" to describe a past transformation or development completed before a certain point. For example, "By 2020, "we had evolved" into a fully remote team."

What are some alternatives to "we had evolved"?

Alternatives include "we had developed", "we had progressed", or "we had transformed", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "we have evolved" instead of "we had evolved"?

Both are correct, but they convey different tenses. "We have evolved" indicates a process that started in the past and continues to the present, while ""we had evolved"" emphasizes that the evolution was completed before a specific point in the past.

What is the difference between "we evolved" and "we had evolved"?

"We evolved" refers to a simple past action of evolving. "We had evolved" indicates that the evolution was completed before another point or action in the past. For example, "We evolved as a company" versus "Before the merger, "we had evolved" our technology."