Small boats loaded with wares sped to the great liner as she was entering the harbour.Before she had anchored,the men from the boats had climbed on board and the decks were soon covered with colourful rugs form Persia,silks from India,copper coffee pots,and beautiful handmade silverware.
答：此句摘自NCE BIII L28
从句和主句都用的是过去完成时.
是的,一般说来,Sth.had happened before sth.else happened.在一件事情发生之前,另一件事情已经发生了.before 从句用一般过去时,主句用过完.
反过来,如果用after 的话是：Sth.happened after sth.else had happened.在某事情发生之后,另一件事情发生了.
一般情况下,两个过去发生的事情,先发生的用过去完成时.后发生的用一般过去时.
由于after,before已经表明了两件过去事情发生的先后,所以主从句都可以用一般过去时态.
对比：Before she had anchored,the men had climbed on board.
和：Before she anchored,the men had climbed on board
的区别.
后者表示在她抛锚这个动作发生之前,那几个男的就已经爬上了甲板.
前者表示在她完成抛锚这个动作之前,那几个男的就已经爬上了甲板.
请参考体会下面两个句子：
Don't get off until the bus stops.公交车停车之前别下车.
Don't get off until the bus has stopped.公交车停稳之前别下车.
从踩刹车到完合停稳,尽管很段,还是有时间差的.
有的人心急,司机一踩刹车,车子还没有停稳就跳车了.
有的人比较稳重,要等车完全停下来才下车.
