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 • 13790 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.

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Last updated: November 11, 2024

Jul 18, 2014 ... It would have been better if he had sent an email or text that said "we need to talk when you get home" or waiting until she was on her way home ...
A couple of weeks before our visit, he had sent an email to my husband, Peter: "Hoi, vriend—you want me to buy a pig?" Of course we said yes; it's just that ...
Sep 26, 2013 ... By Tuesday afternoon, he had sent an email through our website, asking to for someone to call him and follow-up on his questions. This ...
Oct 16, 2024 ... “breakdown in communication.” At a hearing on that motion, the court addressed. Conley, and he said that he had sent an email to counsel ...
May 9, 2019 ... Prosecutors had filed a motion seeking to have his bail revoked — which would send him to jail — because they said he had sent an email to ...
Jun 18, 2024 ... The Mayor reported that he had sent an email to the Worthington Police Department to receive monthly reports on activity in the area. He ...
Harrington reported that he had sent an email to the Vice. Chair of the Historical Commission, but had not heard back yet. New Business a. Vote re: Sale of ...
Apr 10, 2008 ... Irizarry filed a factual resume that admitted that he had sent an email charged in Count Thirteen to his ex-wife, Leah Smith, threatening to ...
I got to meet Brad when he came back to Prince Edward County in November of 2008. He had sent an email in September of 2008, when he was back in Vicenza, ...
Jun 25, 2020 ... ” In other words, he agreed that he had sent an email threatening to harm the company unless it paid he and others the large consulting fee.

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.