"I had often heard" vs "I'd often heard"

Question

"I had often heard" vs "I'd often heard"

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "I had often heard" is the past perfect tense, indicating an action that occurred before another past action. "I'd often heard" is the contraction of "I had often heard" and is more commonly used in informal speech or writing.

Last Updated: March 19, 2024

This phrase is used when you want to talk about something you frequently heard in the past, before another past event.

Examples:

I had often heard about the legendary treasure before I went on the adventure.
She had often heard the song on the radio before she learned the lyrics.
He had often heard his grandmother's stories when he was a child.

Alternatives:

I frequently heard
I had heard many times
I used to hear often
I had been told frequently
I was accustomed to hearing

This phrase is used in casual conversations or informal writing to express something you frequently heard in the past.

Examples:

I'd often heard that it was a great place to visit.
She'd often heard the story from her grandparents.
He'd often heard the sound of the waves crashing against the shore.

Alternatives:

I had often heard
I frequently heard
I used to hear often
I had been told frequently
I was accustomed to hearing

Answer 1

I had often heard

This phrase is correct and is used in the past perfect tense to indicate an action that occurred before another past action.

Answer 2

I'd often heard

This phrase is correct and is a contraction of "I had often heard." It is more commonly used in informal speech or writing.

"I had often heard" vs "I'd often heard"

I had often heard

I'd often heard

Related Comparisons