i had called them vs i called them

Both "I had called them" and "I called them" are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "I had called them" is used in the past perfect tense to indicate an action that was completed before another past action. "I called them" uses simple past tense to refer to an action that concluded in the past.

Explained by Gregg
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: August 11, 2024

i had called them

This phrase is correct and is used in the past perfect tense to indicate an action that was completed before another past action.

Use "I had called them" when you want to express that the action of calling happened before another past action. It is formed with the past perfect tense of the verb "to call".

Examples:

I had called them before they left.
By the time I arrived, I had called them multiple times.
She said she had called them earlier.
He had called them before they could respond.
We had called them, but they didn't answer.

Show examples from the web [+]

I forgot to tell you that I had called them and said we'd like to discuss something with them.
I got a bunch of voice mails from my mom and Doug and Dave saying I had called them asking really weird questions, but I didn't call them.
Maybe if I had called the cops earlier.
Maybe she would still be alive if I had called sooner.
Helen and I had called a truce.
That I had called a nun in his previous parish.
In fact, I had called said museum, long distance, to tell them a package was arriving.
I didn't call your auto... I had called you.
I appreciate Amy's help, but I had called the school about this yesterday, and the Dean was well aware of Ms. Carmichael having some issues.
Greg didn't know that I had called the Mayor.
If I had called him or told him in person... ...he might've thought things could just go back the way they were, but they can't.
How did she know that I had called you?
It might have worked, actually, if the phone he had called them with hadn't been found.
By staying, I had called her bluff!
And what would I have said if I had called you?
Even before the Palestinian elections, I had called for Parliament's agenda to include the issue of the European diplomats' harsh but accurate report on Jerusalem, which the Council kept secret so as not to affect its relations with the Israeli authorities.
I am grateful to Mr von Habsburg, but I should explain that I had called Mr Imaz, who represents a different party from the previous speaker, but then he withdrew at the last minute.
You yourself called them a destructive race.
People called them minor classics of anguish and despair.
I called them and declined their offer.

Alternatives:

I had already called them
I had called them before
I had called them previously
I had made a call to them
I had phoned them

i called them

This phrase is correct and is used in the simple past tense to indicate a completed action in the past.

Use "I called them" when you want to express that the action of calling happened at a specific point in the past. It is formed with the simple past tense of the verb "to call".