he had sent an email vs he sent an email

Both "he had sent an email" and "he sent an email" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "He had sent an email" refers to an action that was completed before a certain point in the past, and "he sent an email" refers to an action that occurred at a specific time in the past.

Explained by Michele A.
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: October 12, 2024 • 13764 views

he had sent an email

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English. It is in the past perfect tense, indicating an action completed before a certain point in the past.

This phrase is used to describe an action that was completed before a specific time in the past. It emphasizes the completion of the action before another event or time reference.

Examples:

He had sent an email before the meeting started.
By the time I arrived, he had already sent an email.
She had sent an email to confirm the appointment.
They had sent an email with all the details.
Before the deadline, he had sent an email with the report.

Show examples from the web [+]

Another journalist had sent an email with a link to the website of the Swedish newspaper Expressen.
Admissions sent an email confirmation, and it's just orientation.
You sent an email last night.
Mr. Possibilities just sent an email, ten minutes ago.
Bailey sent an email, all right.
Right before the transaction, Yun-guk HA sent an email to three of his colleagues.
Sergeant Odelle Ballard sent an email to an officer at Africom 14 hours after she was reported dead by the U.S. military.
Like a good, dedicated employee, she sent an email to C.E.O. James Hemmings.
I sent an email so long and indigestible
I sent an email with a virus promising 40% off any purchase at Bloomingdales.
You sent an email to the heads of household requesting to be put in charge of this Sanctuary.
I've sent an email already to quite a few of you.
Anyway, I have sent an email telling everyone that we have class today and I would like you to attend.
My brother sent an email to half the school, said we'd all be talking about it tomorrow, and that it would be a night the socio would never forget.
I sent an email out to everybody at the school about the cat, and a family already got back to me and wants it.
For instance, there was the time you sent an email
He said he sent an email that got a rival coworker fired.
The privacy concern over Google's Buzz is similar: everybody of a Gmail user has recently sent an email to will, by default and without prior consent, receive his status updates via Buzz.
The system is monitored daily and at thresholds of 10% or more is sent an email report with the bandwidth used, the number of emails sent, the average weight of messages and errors encountered.
I just sent everyone an email with the info.

Alternatives:

He had already sent an email.
He had sent the email earlier.
He had sent the email before the deadline.
He had sent the email by noon.
He had sent the email last night.

he sent an email

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English. It is in the simple past tense, indicating an action that occurred at a specific time in the past.

This phrase is used to describe an action that happened at a specific time in the past. It does not emphasize the completion of the action before another event.