The plus-que-parfait is used the same way as the past perfect. Something happened before another action in the past. In the following situations the plus-que-parfait is used:
| When to use the plus-que-parfait |
| One action in the past is the logical consequence of an action before. |
|
Il ne pouvait pas s'acheter une voiture, parce qu' il n' avait pas épargné assez d' argent. |
| |
He could not buy a car, because had not saved enough money. |
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Il ne le savait pas, parce que personne ne le lui avait dit. |
| |
He did not know it, because nobody had told him. |
| One action had been finished before another action started. |
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Il avait eu un accident, et à cause de cela il ne pouvait pas venir. |
| |
He had have an accident, that's why he could not come. |
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Il avait cru tout, mais après il s' est rentu compte que tout était un mensonge. |
| |
He had believed it, but later he noticed that all was a lie. |
