[Grammar] Before he moved here, he [didn't know/hadn't known] much about the country.

[naweewra]

Hello,

I have been taught that native speakers prefer to use the past simple, as opposed to the past perfect, when the order of the events is clear from the context.

Which of the following sentences is more natural or are both equally acceptable?

a) Before I moved here, I didn't know much about the country.

b) Before I moved here, I hadn't known much about the country.

Best regards,

Nawee

 

[probus]

To my ear a) is natural and b) is not.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Hello,

I have been taught that native speakers prefer to use the past simple, as opposed to the past perfect, when the order of the events is clear from the context.

Which of the following sentences is more natural or are both equally acceptable?

a) Before I moved here, I didn't know much about the country.

b) Before I moved here, I hadn't known much about the country.

Best regards,

Nawee

You were taught correctly. Both of your sentences are grammatically correct, but the word "before" describes the order of the past actions. That makes the past perfect unnecessary.