Why do you use the past perfect in a case like this

Question

cobra panda 120 Yes, had rained that night. This indicates it was a previous and particular night. Whether it had rained sometime during the night or even all night until daybreak is immaterial because either way, the rain that night prevented observation of the moon when the person wanted to do so.

I don't follow. Are you saying it might go like this:

"One night last week, I set out to observe the moon. As it had rained that night, I could not observe the moon."

Is that right? If not, please provide a correct scenario.

Cobra panda 120 · Accepted Answer

It really isn't that difficult.

A: Did you see the moon last Tuesday night?

B: It had rained that night and I didn't get to observe it.

Reasons why the rain could have prevented his observation.

1. He went outside to observe and it was raining. (Did it rain? Yes. Had it rained that night? Yes)

2. He went outside to observe and everything was wet from rain and it was still overcast. (Did it rain? Yes. Had it rained that night? Yes. "It had rained" simply sums up why B couldn't observe the moon.)

3. He went outside to observe and everything was wet from rain. He planned on lying on his lawn and/or setting up his telescope, but it was too wet to bother. (Had it rained that night? Yes. "It had rained" simply sums up why B couldn't observe the moon.)

4 He went outside to observe and it was raining. He checked again later. Still raining. He went to bed. When he woke in the morning, there was no rain. (Did it rain? Yes. Had it rained that night? Yes. Regardless of when it stopped, it prevented him from observing the moon.)

Why do you use the past perfect in a case like this

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