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i understood vs I had understood

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. 'I understood' is used to express that you have grasped something in the present or recent past, while 'I had understood' is used to indicate that you had grasped something before a specific point in the past.

Last updated: March 27, 2024 • 925 views

i understood

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to indicate that you have grasped something in the present or recent past.

You can use 'I understood' to convey that you have comprehended something at the moment or recently.

Examples:

  • I understood the instructions clearly.
  • After the explanation, I understood the concept better.

Alternatives:

  • I get it
  • I comprehend
  • I see what you mean
  • I follow
  • I see

I had understood

This phrase is correct and is used to indicate that you had grasped something before a specific point in the past.

'I had understood' is used when you want to express that you had comprehended something at a particular time in the past, often before another event occurred.

Examples:

  • I had understood the task before the meeting started.
  • By the time she arrived, I had understood the situation.
  • Mar 2, 2012 ... (b) "I thought I had understood you when you gave me the instructions." Yes, this is perfectly natural English. I am not sure that (a) is ...
  • Mar 13, 2018 ... I wish i had understood the importance of proofs earlier. Now i usually break down proofs into: if {conditions} then {statements}. In the ...
  • What if I Had Understood the Grace of God as a Teenager? By Chelsea Kingston Erickson. In Teens/Youth Ministry. April 15, 2024. 10 Min Read. Add Comment.
  • Jan 2, 2023 ... A small guide to things I wish I had understood earlier. Hello fellow hunters,. two weeks ago I picked up ZERO Sievert, hyped for the Stalker ...
  • Oct 1, 2024 ... Thought Catalog (@thoughtcatalog). 4 Replies. 137 Likes. I wish I had understood sooner that even the most profound love requires work.
  • The phrase "I had understood" is correct and usable in written English. It is a past perfect verb tense, used to describe something that happened before ...
  • Aug 26, 2019 ... I Wish I Had Understood More About Trans Kids Before My Son Came Out. by Vanessa Nichols. Updated: June 1, 2021. Originally Published: Aug. 26 ...
  • Aug 17, 2024 ... Log in · Sign up. Conversation. George Conway · @gtconway3d. How I wish I had understood this when it was written. Quote. Leah McElrath · @ ...
  • Jul 29, 2013 ... I thought I had understood the movie. I think second option is correct because "had" is used when we want to say that one action happened before ...
  • Dec 10, 2020 ... 46 likes, 0 comments - woojiyoon_int on December 10, 2020: "Not sure if I had understood correctly what she said since my Korean is just at ...

Alternatives:

  • I had comprehended
  • I had grasped
  • I had realized
  • I had perceived
  • I had apprehended

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