I had never been to New York before we moved there in 1998. (experience)

She had worked for a big company before she started her work at Intel, that’s why she didn’t find it difficult to get used to procedures. (experience)

The first time I saw Forrest Gump in the theatre I thought it was the best movie I’d ever seen. (superlatives around a point in the past)  

At that time during the 2008 Olympics, it was the biggest swimming pool any country had ever built in history. (superlatives around a point in the past) 

I had been in New York for 15 years when I finally decided to move back to Israel in 2010. (situations)

She had known Jack for 9 years prior to their engagement. (situations)

In June 1943, before the invasion, the general hadn’t yet figured out a clear strategy to defeat the enemy. (Uncompleted action until a point in the past)

Remember?! You hadn’t bought tickets and we had to wait out in the rain in line for 45 minutes. (uncompleted action until a point in the past)

We had booked the caterers, but hadn’t sent the invitations, that’s why everyone was so late, we had to call everyone one by one. (how much completed)

I had prepared the food, called the guests, but hadn’t made the cake; I had nothing to give the guests when they arrived. (how much completed)

The weather had become colder, we had to buy ourselves some warm clothes. (changes in past)

The cost of living had gone up; we were forced to move to a smaller apartment. (changes in past)

By the end of December, it had already rained 4 times. (how many times until a point in the past)

By the end of last year, she’d already taken the test 3 times. (how many times until a point in the past)

I was sitting in my room, thinking about her, I had just finished writing a letter to her. (just happened)

Why didn’t you buy the car in the end? I wanted to, but when I arrived, the shop had just closed, I was really disappointed. (just happened)  

So, after a 10 year on and off relationship Jen and Joe had finally gotten married. (landmark in a story)

On 1 September 1939, Germany had invaded Poland, the world was at war. (landmark in a story)