We received/had received a letter

Question

I want to acknowledge on receipt of a letter.

Which one is correct

"we received" or "we had received"?

And please explain the usages too. Thanks

Please visit [ell.se] -- Good Luck. – Kris May 16 '16 at 08:28 — Kris, May 16 '16 at 08:28

score 1 · Accepted Answer · answered May 16 '16 at 08:29

1

In verb tenses "we received" is simple past "we had received" is past perfect.

The simple past is used to describe actions and/or events that are now completed and no longer true in the present.

The past perfect describes completed events that took place in the past before another past event.

answered May 16 '16 at 08:29

Ann

So I have to use "had received" as we actually received it on last friday, Correct? – Pallavi May 16 '16 at 08:35
You may use both to express past event, it depends on your sentence. For example: "We had received the parcel last Friday when my boss asked about it". – Ann May 16 '16 at 08:53
It shows that the action "had received" happened before another past action "asked". – Ann May 16 '16 at 08:55
Hello, Ann. This question is not suitable for ELU, as I think you would agree if you read the advice at the Help Center. One reason is that it's been addressed here before. – Edwin Ashworth May 16 '16 at 09:54

1 Answers1