"I promised you" vs "I had promised you"

Question

"I promised you" vs "I had promised you"

Both phrases are correct and can be used interchangeably. They convey the same meaning, with a slight difference in emphasis. 'I had promised you' emphasizes the completion of the promise in the past, while 'I promised you' is a simple statement of the action without emphasizing the completion.

Last Updated: March 19, 2024

This phrase is used to state that a promise was made without emphasizing the completion in the past. It is a straightforward way of expressing a commitment or assurance.

Examples:

I promised you I would help you with your project.
She promised him she would call him later.
They promised us they would be on time for the meeting.

Alternatives:

I had promised you
I made a promise to you
I gave you my word
I assured you
I committed to you

This phrase is used to emphasize that a promise was made and completed in the past. It is often used in storytelling or when recounting events that happened before another past event.

Examples:

I had promised you that I would always be there for you.
She had promised him that she would come to the party.
They had promised us a surprise, but we never found out what it was.

Alternatives:

I promised you
I had made a promise to you
I had given you my word
I had assured you
I had committed to you

Answer 1

I promised you

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English. It is a simple statement of making a promise without emphasizing the completion in the past.

Answer 2

I had promised you

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English. It emphasizes the completion of the promise in the past.

"I promised you" vs "I had promised you"

I promised you

I had promised you

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