Have tried vs Had tried

Both "have tried" and "had tried" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "Have tried" is used to talk about actions that started in the past and continue up to the present or actions that have just been completed. On the other hand, "had tried" is used to talk about actions that were completed before a certain point in the past.

Last updated: April 09, 2024 • 1026 views

Have tried

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

Use "have tried" to talk about actions that started in the past and continue up to the present or actions that have just been completed.

Examples:

I have tried to learn Spanish for a year now.
She has tried many different diets, but none of them worked.
Have you tried the new restaurant in town?
We have tried our best to finish the project on time.
They have tried to fix the issue multiple times.

Show examples from the web [+]

I have tried to do so.
I have tried to bear everything else.
I have tried, sir, many different people.
Well, I have tried to overcome this fear of flying.
Your father and I have tried to anticipate your every question, Kal-El.
And I have tried gaining weight, Dr. Grey.
I have tried to help Lisbeth Salander in every way.
I have tried every possible spelling of Roshi in the directory.
I have tried everything to remember.
I have tried and I seem fairly indestructible on that point.
You know I have tried to change these feelings.
I have tried to show both courage and sacrifice.
We may discover, for example, that I have tried to be helpful; I have tried to be patient; I have tried to understand; or whatever it might have been.
I have tried, time and again I have tried.
Have tried everything they suggested, and let them fa know that it still has problems.
Bigger men than you have tried.
Many have tried, young Peter Mills.
But we have tried, Kyle.
Warriors greater than you have tried.
Philosophers have tried to establish rules for promises.

Alternatives:

have attempted
have made an effort
have given it a go
have experimented with
have put in the effort

Had tried

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

Use "had tried" to talk about actions that were completed before a certain point in the past.

Examples:

She had tried to call him, but he didn't answer.
Before the exam, I had tried to study all the material.
They had tried to fix the car themselves before taking it to the mechanic.
He had tried to convince her to change her mind.
The team had tried different strategies, but none of them worked.

Show examples from the web [+]

Neither of us had tried to change the other.
The newspaper said he had tried to get a little publicity.
Stroszek had tried his hand at various jobs without success.
Sarkozy had tried in vain to remove the judge, theoretically independent of the Department of Justice.
However, the police report said that he had tried to smother her.
Not without admitting that you had tried to purchase a very valuable stolen object.
The others she had tried weren't easily portable, comfortable, or aesthetically pleasing.
He also highlights a tendency to reconcile the pastoral misericordista, Ratzinger had tried to stem...
She had tried various medications to relieve her pain, including the opioid oxycodone.
DC editor Carmine Infantino had tried to acquire the license to publish Planet of the Apes comic books.
Our Socialist rapporteur had tried to radicalise this proposal for a directive by moving away from the Feira agreement.
Because Ordzhonikidze had tried to prevent Beria from realizing his shameful plans.
To enliven himself he had tried a number of Eastern practices.
I was later told that he had tried to defend me.
The prosecution said he couldn't offer any sentence reduction but had tried.
She had tried to find the correct person for several hours without success.
Amanda had tried hard to coax the boy to speak and even to show any emotion.
But 18 months later, I asked him why he had tried to shoot me.
And you had the gun because someone had tried to kill you.
She had tried to teach them, even if it wasn't what they wanted to learn.

Alternatives:

had attempted
had made an effort
had given it a go
had experimented with
had put in the effort

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