Definition:

Had been serves as the past perfect tense of the verb 'to be'. This phrase is used to express an action or state that occurred in the past before another past action or state.

Examples:

As a past perfect verb:

1. She had been waiting for hours before the train finally arrived.

2. They had been friends since childhood, but now they rarely speak.

3. He had been studying all night when he realized he lost his notes.

As an auxiliary verb:

1. I had been planning to go hiking, but the weather was too bad.

2. They had been working on the project for weeks before it got cancelled.

3. She had been living in New York before she moved to Los Angeles.

Related products:

• Past Perfect Tense Books
• English Grammar Books