he had taken holiday vs he took holiday

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'He had taken holiday' is used when referring to a past action that was completed before another past event. 'He took holiday' is used to simply state that he took a holiday at some point in the past.

Last updated: March 27, 2024 • 3074 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used when referring to a past action that was completed before another past event.

"he had taken holiday"

This phrase is used to indicate that someone took a holiday before a specific point in the past. It is often used in the context of narrating past events.

Examples:

He had taken holiday before the company announced the new policy.
By the time he returned, he had taken holiday for two weeks.
She had taken holiday when the project started.
They had taken holiday before the pandemic hit.
Before the accident, he had taken holiday to relax.

Show examples from the web [+]

The Postal Miracle trial has taken a holiday high-speed lane through the overloaded court docket.
He has not taken any holiday, he has been at work since the start of his Presidency.
(5) Account must be taken of public holidays at the Commission and in the Member States.
Until I hear different, my mother could have taken the crew on holiday.
Whilst this gives the impression of flexibility, of time and place, the reality is that of consumers having to pay additional charges for each holiday taken, at prices comparative with any leading (non timeshare) tour operator.
He had taken the last one.
You see, he had taken an oath.
You see, he had taken an oath.
He had taken him from his dorm room.
He had taken him from his dorm room.
I'd heard he had taken it hard, drinking.
He had taken some innocent child and split its personality.
He had taken to charge and I shot him.
Bullets that he had taken out of various patients, it seems.
He had taken every precaution to protect his wife.
Anything he thought was pagan he had taken out.
For this reason variable 3.3 refers to annual holiday entitlement, which acts as a proxy for annual holidays actually taken.
allowances actually paid for annual holidays not taken,
It is recognised that many employers are unable to state the number of holidays actually taken by the employee during the year.
By the time we got here, he had taken two of these guys out.

Alternatives:

he had taken a holiday
he had taken time off
he had gone on holiday
he had gone on vacation
he had taken a break

This phrase is correct and commonly used to indicate a simple past action of taking a holiday.

"he took holiday"

This phrase is used to state that someone took a holiday at some point in the past without specifying when exactly it happened.

Examples:

He took holiday last month.
She took holiday during the summer.
They took holiday after the project was completed.
He took holiday to spend time with his family.
She took holiday to travel around Europe.

Show examples from the web [+]

Round about the time he took his holiday.
The church often took Pagan holidays, renamed them for their own purposes.
My father took a holiday on weekend with his girlfriend.
There we took a holiday in the four years we are together.
When's the last time you took a holiday?
There we took a holiday in the four years we are together.
Arthur, my late husband, and I always took our annual holidays in Bournemouth.
The last holiday you took, you called me with Scotland.
The holidays we took with her parents.
I took her on holiday, two star hotel, full board.
Can I remind you what happened when your boss and mentor, a man you loved, took his first holiday in 15 years.
Yes, what is it? I just wanted to make sure that you got this before you took off for the holidays.
I took it from the Holiday Inn lobby when I stopped to use the bathroom.
So, hang on, we took three cars on holiday and they were all wrong.
And I would like to say that Greece has recently suffered two major shipping disasters, with many lives lost at sea, which took place during the holidays.
He went on to defend Mr Barroso, saying that it was a holiday accepted before he took office, and that the friendship was a long-term one, adding, "There is hardly an industry in Europe that doesn't receive some government funding".
- He took Becky that way.
- He took Becky that way.
He took me once for my birthday.
Yes, said he took all his medicines.

Alternatives:

he took a holiday
he went on holiday
he went on vacation
he took time off
he took a break

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he had taken holiday vs he took holiday