Difference from Simple Past and Past Perfect

1. The 'simple past' can also be used for actions that occur almost simultaneously

1.1. EXAMPLE:

1.2. When she saw him she began to cry.

1.3. Cuando ella lo vio comenzó a llorar.

2. The past perfect refers to an action or state that began in the past and which is prior to another action also in the past.

2.1. EXAMPLE:

2.2. He had cooked the dinner when she arrived.

2.3. Él había hecho la cena cuando ella llegó.

3. One of the sentences is usually entered by 'When', 'after' or 'before'.

3.1. EXAMPLE:

3.2. When he arrived, she had already gone home.

3.3. She had already gone home before he arrived. 

3.4. After she died her husband moved with their son.

4. Estructure "Past Perfect"

4.1. Affirmative Sujeto+“had”+past participle+complement

4.2. Negative Sujeto+“had”+“not”+past participle+com

4.3. Interrogative “Had”+sujeto+past participle+com+?

5. Both refer to past actions or states although they have different uses

6. The 'simple past' is used to speak of an action or finished state.

6.1. EXAMPLE:

6.2. I painted my house yesterday.

6.3. Pinté mi casa ayer.

7. Estructure "Simple Past"

7.1. Affirmative subj + hat + vpp +c

7.2. Negative subj + hadnot + vpp +c

7.3. interrogative had + subj + vpp +c + ?