Learn English – Usage of two hads in a sentence, not continuously

grammaticality

Is the second sentence correct?

Are we going ahead with this now? Earlier, you had told me that they had quoted a huge fee the last time we asked.

Or should it rather just be "You told me that they had quoted a huge fee…"?

Best Answer

Yes, I think the first one is incorrect. 'You had told me' is the pluperfect (past perfect), and I suspect (though cannot be sure) that you do not need the pluperfect at this stage.

There are, however, circumstances in which the pluperfect could be used twice, such as if I say:

'Last Thursday, you told me John was going to Birmingham. However, he had earlier told me that he had done all the travelling he intended this month.'