Plus-que-parfait (Pluperfect)

The plus-que-parfait (pluperfect) is used to talk about an action that happened before another past action. In English, it corresponds to "had done," "had spoken," "had gone." If the passé composé is "one step" into the past, the plus-que-parfait is "two steps" — further back in time.

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How to Form the Plus-que-parfait

Subject + imparfait of avoir or être + past participle

With Avoir: Manger (to eat)

Person	Plus-que-parfait	Translation
je	j'avais mangé	I had eaten
tu	tu avais mangé	you had eaten
il / elle / on	il avait mangé	he had eaten
nous	nous avions mangé	we had eaten
vous	vous aviez mangé	you had eaten
ils / elles	ils avaient mangé	they had eaten

With Être: Partir (to leave)