Guide to English grammar

When Miranda had written the letter, she went out to post it.
After Miranda wrote/had written the letter, she went out to post it.
NOT When Miranda wrote the letter, she went out to post it.

For the past perfect with hardly and no sooner, • 250(5).

I had hardly sat down when the phone rang.

2 Sometimes the choice of past simple or past perfect can make a difference to the meaning.

When the boss arrived, the meeting began. (The boss arrived and then the meeting began.)
When the boss arrived, the meeting had begun. (The meeting began before the boss arrived.)
When Max spoke, Miranda put the phone down. (= When Max started speaking...)
When Max had spoken, Miranda put the phone down. (= When Max finished speaking...)

3 We can sometimes use the past perfect after before or until.

The toaster went wrong before it toasted/had toasted one piece of bread.
We didn't want to stop until we finished/had finished the job.

4 Use of the past perfect continuous

We use the past perfect continuous for an action over a period up to a past time.
Everything had been going so well up to then.
The driver who died in the accident had been drinking.
A woman collapsed at the supermarket checkout. She had been smuggling out a frozen chicken under her hat.
A practical guide to English grammar 77
Compare the present and past tense.
My hands are wet. I have been washing the floor.
My hands were wet. I had been washing the floor.

5 The past perfect continuous and other past forms

1 Compare the past perfect continuous and past perfect.

Period of time Complete action

I