"i promised" vs "I had promised"

Question

"i promised" vs "I had promised"

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'I promised' is used to talk about a promise made in the past without specifying when it was made. 'I had promised' is used to talk about a promise made before a specific point in the past. The choice between the two depends on the specific time reference you want to convey.

Last Updated: March 19, 2024

This phrase is used to simply state that a promise was made in the past. It does not provide information about the specific time when the promise was made.

Examples:

I promised to help her with her homework yesterday.
He promised to call me back, but he never did.

Alternatives:

I made a promise
I gave my word

This phrase is used when you want to indicate that a promise was made before a particular time or event in the past. It emphasizes the completion of the promise before that point.

Examples:

I had promised to finish the project by Friday, but I couldn't meet the deadline.
She had promised to visit her grandmother before she fell ill.

Alternatives:

I had made a promise
I had given my word

Answer 1

i promised

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to talk about a promise made in the past without specifying when.

Answer 2

I had promised

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to talk about a promise made before a specific point in the past.

"i promised" vs "I had promised"

i promised

I had promised

Related Comparisons