§477. Tenses of the Indicative

The Pluperfect is used (1) to denote an action or state completed in past time; or (2) sometimes to denote an action in indefinite time, but prior to some past time referred to:—

• (1) locī nātūra erat haec, quem locum nostrī castrīs dēlēgerant (B. G. 2.18), this was the nature of the ground which our men had chosen for a camp.
• Viridovīx summam imperī tenēbat eārum omnium cīvitātum quae dēfēcerant (id. 3.17), Viridovix held the chief command of all those tribes which had revolted.
• (2) neque vērō cum aliquid mandāverat cōnfectum putābat (Cat. 3.16), but when he had given a thing in charge he did not look on it as done.
• quae sī quandō adepta est id quod eī fuerat concupītum, tum fert alacritātem (Tusc. 4.15), if it (desire) ever has gained what it had [previously] desired, then it produces joy.

For the Epistolary Pluperfect, see § 479.

FUTURE PERFECT TENSE