Past Anterior

The past anterior is used to indicate the occurrence of an isolated event in the past, before another isolated event took place. It is often used with the simple past (historic) or perfect to indicate a close correlation between two actions, without any reference to duration or repetition. The use of such expressions as après que, aussitôt que/dès que, lorsque/ quand emphasizes the logical link which exists between the two actions expressed.

Quand il eut fini de chanter, il quitta la scène.
(When he had finished singing, he left the stage.)

Après qu'il eut quitté la scène, il se reposa.
(After he left the stage, he rested.)

See Also:

• Adverbial Clauses of Time
• Verbs
• Verb Tenses
• Simple Past Tense
• Perfect Tense
• Imperfect Tense
• Other Means to Express the Past
• 1st Conjugation
• 2nd Conjugation
• 3rd Conjugation
• Appendix of Irregular Verbs