YOU SAID:

: they couldn't, wouldn't hadn't had had something to eat, but it was earlier than them.

INTO JAPANESE

彼らはできなかった、食べなかったではないでしょうが、それは彼らより早かったです。

BACK INTO ENGLISH

They could not, did not eat, but it was faster than them.

INTO JAPANESE

彼らはできなかった、食べなかった、しかしそれは彼らより早かった。

BACK INTO ENGLISH

They could not, did not eat, but it was faster than them.