What Had Already Happened
Past Perfect
The past perfect expresses an action that had finished before another action took place in the past. The past perfect is often used to provide reasons for making a decision in the past.
Example:
The subsidiary had been announced before they asked for it.
Had you discussed appreciation with Tom before you mentioned it at the meeting?
How long had you told her to be held responsible for her own account records before she asked for the promotion?
Positive Form:
Subject + had + past participle + (object(s))
I had already agreed to the terms before they offered the additional collateral.
Negative Form:
Subject + had + not + past participle + (object(s))
They hadn't come up with enough votes before they protested the bill.
Question Form:
(Question Word) + have + subject + past participle?
How long had you told her to be held responsible for her own account records before she asked for the promotion?