Using the pluperfect tense to indicate that a past action happens before another past action (El Pluscuamperfecto)

The past of the past in Spanish

In Spanish we can talk about a past action that happened before another past action using El Pretérito Pluscuamperfecto. This can be referred to as "the past of the past".

Have a look and listen to these examples:

When both actions are expressed in the same sentence, there is a connective word that links the actions (cuando, antes de...).

But sometimes the two actions are expressed in two different sentences, and it is understood by the context which action took place first. For example:

Despite not being connected by any word, it is understood which action took place first and which after. In this case Julian prepared for it first, and then he had the interview.

See also:

• Conjugate regular -ar, -er, and -ir verbs in the pluperfect tense in Spanish (El Pluscuamperfecto de Indicativo)
• Conjugate hacer, escribir, ver, decir, poner in the pluperfect tense in Spanish (El Pluscuamperfecto)