Has been or had been
He announced that he was leaving the group in 2016 because he has been suffering from a crippling disease for the past 5 years. Can I use both has been and had been? if he said that he had been suffering from that disease for the past 5 years, then I'd use the past perfect. If he only mentioned he'd be leaving the group, I'd use the present perfect because it's just stating facts. Am I getting this correctly?
Top answer
Past perfect is the best choice. Present perfect sounds unnatural.
- Past perfect is the best choice.
- Present perfect sounds unnatural.
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Past perfect is the best choice. Present perfect sounds unnatural.
0NecrophagistHe announced that he was leaving the group in 2016 because he has been suffering from a crippling disease for the past 5 years.
As this announcement was made in 2016, and his crippling illness happened before that, the only natural choice will be "had been suffering...". In casual conversation, I suppose the simple past continuous " He was suffe
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