I had spoken to her vs i spoke to her

Both phrases are correct, but they're used in different contexts. "I had spoken to her" is used when referring to a past action that occurred before another past action. On the other hand, "I spoke to her" is used to simply state a past action.

Explained by Miss E.
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: September 18, 2024 • 17271 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English when referring to a past action that occurred before another past action.

"I had spoken to her"

This phrase is used in the past perfect tense to indicate an action that was completed before another past action. It adds a sense of sequence or priority to the events.

Examples:

I had spoken to her before she left for the meeting.
By the time I arrived, he had already spoken to her.
She was upset because I had spoken to her in a harsh tone.
He realized he had spoken to her too hastily.
I had spoken to her about the project before the deadline.

Show examples from the web [+]
Last updated: November 07, 2024

Feb 19, 2018 ... ... I had spoken to her" instead of formulating it as "I´d rather have ... But I'm having trouble - like you - thinking of a situation in which "I'd ...
Oct 15, 2019 ... Another, younger white woman muttered under her breath “so violent, so violent.” I asked her what she meant. Surprised that I had spoken to her, ...
Sep 18, 2024 ... I had spoken to her the morning of this tragic event. She and I were so excited because she learned something new that she could do on her ...
Aug 17, 2016 ... I had spoken to her the day before when she brought her husband into the hospital. I remembered the concern in her eyes as she discussed the ...
Sep 24, 2018 ... That time, my disappointment in myself for how I had spoken to her didn't punch me in the gut, but sunk in, slowly and purposefully, like ...
Apr 29, 2019 ... I had spoken to her 1 month or so before she passed and she recalled several small stories from when I was younger and she was the Bluebell ...
Oct 29, 2020 ... ... I had spoken to her very little. We just hit it off very quickly. The circumstances were very unusual in that she had broken her leg. I ...
Dec 13, 2023 ... Until my mother passed a few weeks ago, I had spoken to her on the telephone nearly every day of my adult life. Our conversations covered ...
She got my name off the attendance list and was cold calling me. But, she thought I wouldn't remember whether I had spoken to her (or someone else from her ...
Sep 5, 2013 ... I had spoken to her 2 years earlier when my husband and I decided to have a baby. She made me feel comfortable and I felt we were on the ...

Alternatives:

I had already spoken to her.
I had a conversation with her.
I had communicated with her.
I had talked to her.
I had discussed with her.

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to simply state a past action.

"i spoke to her"

This phrase is used in the simple past tense to describe a completed action in the past without emphasizing the sequence of events.

Examples:

I spoke to her yesterday about the project.
She seemed upset after I spoke to her.
He spoke to her on the phone last night.
I spoke to her briefly before the meeting.
They spoke to her about the issue.

Show examples from the web [+]
Last updated: November 08, 2024

Jan 4, 2018 ... Which one is correct: “I spoke to her yesterday”, “We managed to speak yesterday” or “I talked to her yesterday”? The truth is, they're all ...
Jul 17, 2024 ... I spoke to her in the very same way, thanked her again for raising a kind and smart man who was the love of my life, etc and she's still alive.
Jan 30, 2020 ... “I spoke to her” is used when you give someone an advise. The person you talk to won't talk. “I spoke with” used be used when you and have ...
Aug 20, 2024 ... Therapist hurt me - Update: I spoke to her. Advice. Sorry, this post was deleted by the person who originally posted it. Upvote 196
Nov 7, 2008 ... Hi everybody, I'd like to know if both sentences are correct: 1. I spoke to her for only a few minutes. 2. I spoke with her for only a few ...
Oct 7, 2021 ... I sat on the floor next to her and she smiled, giggled, and kicked her legs as I spoke to her. I asked her, “Do you know how I know you know ...
Jun 1, 2006 ... I spoke to her = je lui ai parlé too. BUT (because there is a proposition) : I spoke with her = J'ai parlé avec elle. Petit exercice pour les ...
Oct 23, 2018 ... My daughter is 12—here's how I spoke to her about sexual harassment. MPs have warned that sexual harassment is widespread in the UK. I wish I ...
Dec 19, 2016 ... I spoke to her = (Yo) (le) hablé a ella ; alekpushkin. Senior Member · English ; chileno. Senior Member · Castellano - Chile ; Sirta. Member. Spanish ...
Except it's not entirely true to say that I spoke to her this week – I actually spoke to her quite a long time ago, before Kindling was out on shelves, and ...

Alternatives:

I talked to her.
I had a conversation with her.
I communicated with her.
I discussed with her.
I chatted with her.

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I had spoken to her vs i spoke to her

"I had spoken to her"

"i spoke to her"

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