Rule: Past Perfect ShowHide

had + 3rd form

The earlier of two past actions: one thing had already happened before another thing in the past.

After they had sold their car, they bought a motorbike.
Laurence had lived in New York before he moved to London.

• negative hadn't: The lawyer hadn't received the letter when we spoke to him.
• question Had …? Had you read the book before?

Past Perfect or Past Simple

The Past Simple tells the story in order; the Past Perfect steps back to something earlier.

When we arrived, the film started. (we arrived, then it started)
When we arrived, the film had started. (it started first – we missed the beginning)

before · after · when · by the time · as soon as · until · already · just · never … before

If you tell events in the order they happened, you don't need the Past Perfect: I read the book and then saw the film. Use it when you go back in time: I saw the film. I had read the book before.