Tenses Home | To make clear the order of events, or to emphasise that something
happened before the past situation described: |
| When the doctor arrived, the man had
died. When we got to the theatre - 10 minutes late - the play had started. I saw her yesterday. I hadn't seen her for ages so we talked a lot. Was it your first visit to New York? Hadn't you been there before? |
| With certain expressions: |
| I went to London last year; it was the first time I had been there. |
| With "If..." in unreal past situations: |
| If I had known, I wouldn't have come. |
the man had died
This doctor is only late! Compare with:
"When the doctor arrived, the man died."
Which doctor would you prefer?
If I had known
...I didn't know...