Past perfect/had

Hi,



I wouldn't say it's wrong, but to me it reads awkwardly, partly because the word 'ago' bothers me.



Also, the last part of the sentence is rather ambiguous. eg

Is it

I need documents . . . so I can claim health insurance benefits.

or

. . . I moved to Mississippi so I can claim health insurance benefits.

Thank you Clive,

Could you change it so it makes more sense?

Hi,



So that I can claim health insurance benefits, I need documents to prove I came to this hospital a year ago, before I moved to Mississippi.





So that I can claim health insurance benefits, I need documents to prove I came to this hospital a year ago.





So that I can claim health insurance benefits, I need documents to pr

Thank very much Clive,

When would I know to use the past perfect tense then? Could you give me some examples or kind of teach me when it's necessary to use the past perfect? I don't think it's common for me to apply the past perfect tense in reality.

Hi,



Very broadly speaking, you don't need the Past Perfect when the sequence of events is clear without it.



eg Instead of Mary had cooked dinner before Tom came home,

just say Mary cooked dinner before Tom came home.

The word 'before' shows the sequence.



But compare the difference in meaning i