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BoSsSy Posted 9 years ago
Grammar

The difference between "was" and "had been" ?

Can someone explain me the difference between these ? I wonder sometimes which one to use for example:

1. I was a doctor

2. I had been a doctor

Also I am getting confused by a sentences like these:

1. I had studied

2. I studied

  

Top answer

I was a doctor before I gave up my medical career and became an artist. I had been a doctor for several years when I met him. I had studied French for two years at school before I began studying it at university.

— Cool Breeze

  • I was a doctor before I gave up my medical career and became an artist.
  • I had been a doctor for several years when I met him.
  • I had studied French for two years at school before I began studying it at university.
  • I studied French in my younger days.
  • CB
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2 Answers
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I was a doctor before I gave up my medical career and became an artist.

I had been a doctor for several years when I met him.

I had studied French for two years at school before I began studying it at university.

I studied French in my younger days.

CB

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The past (was, studied) measures the time of the action from the present moment.

The past perfect (had been, had studied) measures the time of the action from a moment in past which has already been established in the larger, previous context.


P - the present moment; the moment the sentence is spoken
R - reference time in the past

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