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She had already eaten when we arrived at the restaurant.

C2

Sentence

Narrator

She had already eaten when we arrived at the restaurant.

Study notes

How to use in different contexts

Narrating a Story

We arrived late; she had already finished her meal.

Describing a Sequence of Events

She ate dinner, and then we arrived at the restaurant.

Expressing Surprise

I was surprised she had already eaten when we got there.

Giving an Explanation

We didn't eat together because she had already eaten before we arrived.

Rephrased versions

Formal

Upon our arrival at the restaurant, she had already consumed her meal.

Casual

She'd already eaten by the time we got to the restaurant.

Simpler English

She ate before we got to the restaurant.

Phrases to learn

had already eaten

Completed eating before a specific time.

arrived at the restaurant

Reached the restaurant.