Order of actions in the past

Multi tool use
Could you please indicate which action took place as the first one in those two examples?
The film started when we arrived.
The film had started when we arrived.
past-tense simple-past
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Could you please indicate which action took place as the first one in those two examples?
The film started when we arrived.
The film had started when we arrived.
past-tense simple-past
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Ewa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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Could you please indicate which action took place as the first one in those two examples?
The film started when we arrived.
The film had started when we arrived.
past-tense simple-past
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Ewa is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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Could you please indicate which action took place as the first one in those two examples?
The film started when we arrived.
The film had started when we arrived.
past-tense simple-past
past-tense simple-past
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asked 22 mins ago
EwaEwa
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The first sentence states that the film started at the exact moment you arrived.
The second sentence would usually be said as "The film had already started when we arrived", stating that the film began before you arrived.
So, in this case, the second sentence happened first, as it began before you arrived, unlike the first, which started at the exact time you arrived.
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The first sentence states that the film started at the exact moment you arrived.
The second sentence would usually be said as "The film had already started when we arrived", stating that the film began before you arrived.
So, in this case, the second sentence happened first, as it began before you arrived, unlike the first, which started at the exact time you arrived.
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Thomas Jowsey is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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The first sentence states that the film started at the exact moment you arrived.
The second sentence would usually be said as "The film had already started when we arrived", stating that the film began before you arrived.
So, in this case, the second sentence happened first, as it began before you arrived, unlike the first, which started at the exact time you arrived.
New contributor
Thomas Jowsey is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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The first sentence states that the film started at the exact moment you arrived.
The second sentence would usually be said as "The film had already started when we arrived", stating that the film began before you arrived.
So, in this case, the second sentence happened first, as it began before you arrived, unlike the first, which started at the exact time you arrived.
New contributor
Thomas Jowsey is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
The first sentence states that the film started at the exact moment you arrived.
The second sentence would usually be said as "The film had already started when we arrived", stating that the film began before you arrived.
So, in this case, the second sentence happened first, as it began before you arrived, unlike the first, which started at the exact time you arrived.
New contributor
Thomas Jowsey is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
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answered 7 mins ago


Thomas JowseyThomas Jowsey
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