Show which of two past events came firstبيّن أي الحدثين وقع أولًا

The idea, simply

When you talk about two past events, use the past perfect (had + past participle) for the earlier one and the past simple for the later one: The train had left when we arrived means the train left first. Compare The train left when we arrived, which means it left at the moment we arrived. Words such as already, before, and by the time often appear with it.

Examples

• The train had left when we arrived.

• I had already eaten, so I was not hungry.

• By the time she called, we had finished.

Lesson words

• by the timeحين، بحلول وقت
  By the time we came, it was over.
• beforeقبل
  Wash your hands before lunch.
• arriveيصل
  We arrived early.
• leaveيغادر
  The bus leaves at six.
• missيفوّت
  I missed the last train.

Lesson exercises

1. Put the words in the correct order.
2. Complete the gap: When I got home, they ___ already gone to bed.
3. Choose the correct English sentence.
4. In I had locked the door before I left, what happened first?
5. Mention something that had already happened before another past event.