It is mainly used in subordinate clauses after dès que, aussitôt que, après que, quand. It describes a past action that took place before another past action (usually expressed in the passé simple). This tense is only used in writing.
Formation: passé simple of the verbs être or avoir (formation of compound tenses) + form of
| singulier | pluriel | |
| 1 | eus parlé | eûmes parlé |
| 2 | eus parlé | eûtes parlé |
| 3 | eut parlé | eurent parlé |
| singulier | pluriel | |
| 1 | fus venu | fûmes venus |
| 2 | fus venu | fûtes venus |
| 3 | fut venu | furent venus |