We use Simple Past if we give past events in the order in which they occured.
However, when we look back from a certain time in the past to tell what had happened before, we use Past Perfect.
Do you just want to tell what happened some time in the past or do you want to tell what had happened before/up to a certain time in the past?
Signal words
| Simple past | Past Perfect simple |
|---|---|
| first | already |
| then | up to then |
| before that day |
Examples:
- Jane got up at seven. She backed her bag and then she went to school (simple past).
- Before her fourth birthday, Jane had never been to school (Past Perfect Simple).