Past perfect grammar guide

is used to talk about an action which happened before another action in
the
past

Mum had baked
a cake
before the party started.

is used to talk about an action which happened before a stated time in
the
past

Lenny had done his homework
by seven o’clock.

had + past participle
regular
verb + ed
irregular
3rd column

1
2
3
4

Decide which action in the past took place 1st and which took place 2nd.
I felt better.
I took an aspirin.
when
2nd
1st
When I had taken an aspirin, I felt better.

Decide which action in the past took place 1st and which took place 2nd.
We called a taxi.
We locked the door.
before
1st
2nd
Before we locked the door, we had called a taxi.

Decide which action in the past took place 1st and which took place 2nd.
It stopped raining.
We took our dog
for a walk.
as soon
as
1st
2nd
As soon as it had stopped raining, we took our dog for a walk.

Decide which action in the past took place 1st and which took place 2nd.
We reached the railway station.
The train left.
by the
time
2nd
1st
By the time we reached the railway station, the train had
left.