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Jigneshbharati Posted 8 years ago
Grammar

Had been drinking vs was drinking

He had been drinking milk out the carton when Mom walked into the kitchen.

https://www.grammarly.com/blog/past-perfect-continuous-tense/

Could someone please explain to me the deference between the above and the following:

He was drinking...?

  

Top answer

'He had been drinking' can mean that he perhaps started drinking milk and then an hour later, his mother walked in on him and he was still in the process of drinking it, whereas 'was drinking' only lets us now that he was in the process of drinking milk when his mother walked in. Basically, the past perfect continuous emphasizes the duration of the action, and the past continuous emphasizes the action. That's my take on it.

  • 'He had been drinking' can mean that he perhaps started drinking milk and then an hour later, his mother walked in on him and he was still in the process of drinking it, whereas 'was drinking' only lets us now that he was in the process of drinking milk when his mother walked in.
  • Basically, the past perfect continuous emphasizes the duration of the action, and the past continuous emphasizes the action.
  • That's my take on it.
  • I'm not a teacher, and you should wait for someone who's qualified to answer.
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2 Answers
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'He had been drinking' can mean that he perhaps started drinking milk and then an hour later, his mother walked in on him and he was still in the process of drinking it, whereas 'was drinking' only lets us now that he was in the process of drinking milk when his mother walked in. Basically, the past perfect continuous emphasizes the duration of the action, and the past continuous emphasizes th

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Jigneshbharatiexplain to me the deference

deference: courteous regard for people's feelings

You want "difference".

JigneshbharatiCould someone please explain to me the deference the difference between the above and the following: He was drinking...?

In practical

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