"previously had not" vs "not had previously"

Question

"previously had not" vs "not had previously"

Both "previously had not" and "not had previously" are correct constructions, but they are used in different contexts. "Previously had not" is more commonly used when emphasizing the time frame of not having done something before a specific point in time. On the other hand, "not had previously" is used when the focus is on the action of not having done something rather than the specific time frame.

Last Updated: March 15, 2024

This phrase is used to highlight that something was not done before a particular moment in the past. It emphasizes the time frame of the action.

Examples:

I previously had not visited that city before last summer.
She previously had not experienced such a challenging situation in her career.
They previously had not encountered such a difficult problem in their research.

Alternatives:

had not previously
had not done so before
had never before
had not previously had the opportunity
had not previously been aware

This phrase is used to emphasize the action of not having done something without specifying a particular time frame. It highlights the fact of not having done something.

Examples:

He not had previously encountered such a difficult task.
They not had previously tasted such delicious food.
She not had previously visited that beautiful place.
The team not had previously won a championship.
I not had previously seen such a rare bird.

Alternatives:

had not previously
had not done so before
had never before
had not previously had the opportunity
had not previously been aware

Answer 1

previously had not

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English, especially when emphasizing the time frame of not having done something before a specific point in time.

Answer 2

not had previously

This phrase is correct and can be used in English, especially when the focus is on the action of not having done something rather than the specific time frame.

"previously had not" vs "not had previously"

previously had not

not had previously

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