had/had been/was

#1 (**permalink**) 13-Oct-2003, 08:39

Dear sir,

Could you please advise how to use had/had been/was to discribe the past action.

Eg. I was in Taipei or I had in taipei or I had been in Taipei last year?

Thanks!

whl626 · #2 (**permalink**) 13-Oct-2003, 10:23

" I was in Taipei last year. " is not difficult to understand :)

" I had in Taipei last year " is wrong sentence.

" I had been in Taipei last year " is an incomplete sentence unless you say more things in front or at the back of this sentence.

eg While you were in the US, I had been in Taipei last year.

' had been ' refers to a period of time there.

**Tdol** · #3 (**permalink**) 13-Oct-2003, 22:46

eg While you were in the US, I had been in Taipei last year.

I'm not too happy with this sentence because the two events were at the same time.

I'd say:
eg While you were in the US, I was in Taipei last year.

whl626 · #4 (**permalink**) 14-Oct-2003, 00:17

On second thought, it sure isn't a good example :P

How about " I had been in Taipei all along before I came to realise that London is more suitable a place for me " ?


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