there were, had
No habían venido en nueve meses, pero eran otros.
They hadn't come in nine months, but they were different.
It was obvious that they had lied.
Ellos no habían ido muy lejos cuando encontraron a un anciano.
They hadn't gone far when they came across an old man.
Los niños habían adquirido una gramática complicada que no existía.
The children had acquired a complicated grammar that did not exist.
— Genocidal Organ (2017)
Quizás tú o Don habían visto algo extraño.
Perhaps you or Don had seen something strange.
— Bugonia (2025)
Quería que todos supieran que las cosas habían cambiado.
I wanted everyone to know that things had changed.
Resulta que la peor opción era la que todos habían elegido desde el principio.
It turns out that the worst option was the one everyone had chosen from the beginning.