Past perfect simple or past simple?

Past perfect simple: I had seen Past simple: I saw

The past perfect simple is used to sequence events in the past to show which event happened first.
Compare

The music  started when the curtains opened. Past simple + past simple: the music started at the
same time as the curtains opened.

The music  had (already) started when the Past perfect simple + past simple: the music
curtains opened. started and then the curtains opened.

The past simple often suggests a stronger connection between the time of the two events.
Compare
When she  came through the door, Past simple + past simple: this sentence shows that as
everyone  shouted, ‘Surprise! Happy she came through the door, everyone immediately
Birthday!’. shouted ‘Surprise!’.

When she  had read all the greetings Past perfect simple + past simple: this sentence
cards, she made a short thank-you emphasises that she had finished reading the cards
speech. before she made her speech.

Past perfect simple: uses

Time up to then

The past perfect refers to time up to a point in the past (time up to then), just as the
present perfect refers to something that happened in the time up to the moment of
speaking (time up to now):
I’d seen all of Elvis Presley’s movies by the time I was 20!
Compare

I’d  been  to five countries in Europe by

Past perfect: ‘time up to then’ (2001).
2001.

I’ve been to five countries in Europe. Present perfect: ‘time up to now’.

Past perfect simple (I had worked)
 

We use had + the -ed form of the verb.

(full form)
I, she, he, it, you, we, they
had
+ worked.
(short form)
I, she, he, it, you, we, they
’d

(full form)
I, she, he, it, you, we, they
had not
− worked.
(short form)
I, she, he, it, you, we, they
hadn’t

? worked
Had I, she, he, it, you, we, they
+ ?

(full form)
Had I, she, he, it, you, we, not
? they worked
− ?
(short form)
Hadn’t I, she, he, it, you, we, they

NOW IT IS YOUR TIME TO PRACTISE

https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/past-perfect-use.html

https://test-english.com/grammar-points/b1/past-simple-present-perfect/#exercises

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKi4Jy6r-0s