Had been
Another interview revealed that ever since childhood she had been very suspicious of strangers.
(From Longman Dictionary.)
Does the use of the past perfect "had been" in the sentence above mean that "she" died?
Top answer
No (it doesn't preclude it either). The past perfect is used because "been very suspicious of strangers" happened before (and up to) the interview, which was itself in the past. The past perfect is backshifted from a presumed present perfect in the interview itself.
- No (it doesn't preclude it either).
- The past perfect is used because "been very suspicious of strangers" happened before (and up to) the interview, which was itself in the past.
- The past perfect is backshifted from a presumed present perfect in the interview itself.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
No (it doesn't preclude it either). The past perfect is used because "been very suspicious of strangers" happened before (and up to) the interview, which was itself in the past. The past perfect is backshifted from a presumed present perfect in the interview itself.
0
Related Questions