English grammar
When + past simple,...had already + past participle
Put two past events in order: what had already happened.
From the scene When I arrived, they had already…
In short
Use when + past simple for the later event and had already + past participle for what happened before it.
Your turn
Which one goes with the earlier event: past perfect?
Options: they had already finished · it had already closed · when we arrived
Show answer
the earlier event: past perfect → it had already closed
How it works
To order two past events, use when (or by the time) + the simple past for the later event, and had already + past participle for what had already happened before it.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
We went back to the bar, but they’d already (blank) the karaoke.
Options: finishing · finished · finish
Show answer
We went back to the bar, but they’d already finished the karaoke.
Volvimos al bar, pero ya habían terminado el karaoke.
Good to know
When we arrived, it had already closed.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
By the time I noticed, he’d already (blank).
Options: gone · go · went
Show answer
By the time I noticed, he’d already gone.
Cuando me di cuenta, ya se había ido.
the later event: plain past simple when we arrived
the earlier event: past perfect it had already closed
Javi
When we got to the club, it had already closed.
Cuando llegamos a la discoteca, ya había cerrado.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
When we got to the club, (blank).
Options: it had already closed · when we arrived · they had already finished
Show answer
Javi
When we got to the club, it had already closed.
Cuando llegamos a la discoteca, ya había cerrado.
the earlier event: past perfect they had already finished
the earlier event: past perfect my alarm had already gone off
Javi
When I got home, my alarm had already gone off.
Cuando llegué a casa, ya había sonado mi despertador.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
When I got home, (blank).
Options: it had already closed · my alarm had already gone off · when we arrived
Show answer
Javi
When I got home, my alarm had already gone off.
Cuando llegué a casa, ya había sonado mi despertador.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| the later event: plain past simple | when we arrived |
|---|---|
| the earlier event: past perfect | it had already closed |
| the earlier event: past perfect | they had already finished |
| the earlier event: past perfect | my alarm had already gone off |
More lines from the story
- JaviWe went back to the bar, but they’d already finished the karaoke.Volvimos al bar, pero ya habían terminado el karaoke.
- JaviBy the time I noticed, he’d already gone.Cuando me di cuenta, ya se había ido.
- NuriaWell when I woke up, you’d already called me twenty times.Pues cuando me desperté, ya me habías llamado veinte veces.
- NuriaIt had already closed? What a pain!¿Ya había cerrado? ¡Qué faena!