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I had been cooking for two hours when she read.
Does it mean I started cooking two hours and when she read, I was still cooking?

I had been cooking for two hours before she read.
Does it mean I started cooking two hours and continued right up to her reading?

I had been studying for 3 years when she visited me.
Does it mean I started studying three years and when she visited me I was still studying?

I had been studying for 3 years before she visited me.
Does it mean I started studying 3 years and continued right up to her visiting?

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

DalaI had been cooking for two hours when she read.

Reading is not a punctual act. It occurs over some duration of time. Therefore it is not appropriate in your example. Let's change it to something more realistic.

I had been cooking for two hours [when / before] she offered to help me.

This says that she offered to help you after you had been cooking for two hours. You were still cooking when she offered help. If you use "when", you are just showing the sequence of events in a neutral manner. If you use "before", you are somewhat implying that you were waiting (perhaps impatiently) for her to offer help.
_________

The remarks above apply equally to the other two sentences you asked about.

CJ

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