- The trapassato prossimo is often used in conjunction with other tenses to describe events that happened sequentially in the past. As a result, we often find the trapassato prossimo used with subordinate clauses, which convey the precise timing of these past events.
In the following examples, both the subordinate clause and the verb phrase in the trapassato prossimo are presented in bold lettering. Observe how the trapassato prossimo is used with other past tenses to relate a series of events.
Ogni settimana, dopo che aveva scritto la sua rubrica di consigli, Alice andava sempre bere un caffè con le amiche.
Every week, after she had written her advice column, Alice always went for coffee with her girlfriends.
Siccome ero arrivata presto la mattina, non ho dovuto affrettarmi.
Since I had arrived early in the morning, I didn’t have to rush myself.
Laila ha comprato il vestito che aveva provato.
Laila bought the dress that she had tried on.
Le mie sorelle non mi hanno creduto, ma avevo detto loro la verità.
My sisters didn’t believe me, but I had told them the truth.
Enrico era stanco perché la settimana prima aveva lavorato molto.
Enrico was tired because the previous week he had worked a lot. - In written Italian, it is quite common to see a main clause featuring a verb in the trapassato prossimo with a subordinate clause introduced by the adverb quando (when) and whose verb is conjugated in the passato remoto.
In the following examples, quando and both verb phrases (one in the trapassato prossimo and one in the passato remoto) are in bold.Eravamo appena usciti di casa, quando cominciarono a cadere le prime gocce di pioggia.
We had just left the house, when the first raindrops began to fall.
Avevamo appena lasciato il sentiero, quando vidi un brutto ceffo tra i cespugli.
We had just left the path when I saw a shady character among the bushes.
Purtroppo Simone arrivò da Ernesto solamente quando aveva già finito di bruciare le lettere.
Unfortunately, Simone arrived at Ernesto’s only when he had already finished burning the letters.