kadioguy
Key Member
- Joined
- Mar 4, 2017
- Member Type
- Student or Learner
- Native Language
- Chinese
- Home Country
- Taiwan
- Current Location
- Taiwan
[My sentences]
a. When I got home, Mary was doing her homework.
b. When I got home, Mary had been doing her homework.
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Do both work?
A friend told me:
Was doing = she was doing it at the moment you got home.
Had been doing = she had been doing her homework before you got home. (She might have stopped doing it before you got home, or she might still be doing it when you got home.)
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I agree with them. However, I would also like to hear your opinions.
(Updated)
I now think that "Had been doing" implies that she was still doing it when you got home.
What do you think?
a. When I got home, Mary was doing her homework.
b. When I got home, Mary had been doing her homework.
-----
Do both work?
A friend told me:
Was doing = she was doing it at the moment you got home.
Had been doing = she had been doing her homework before you got home. (She might have stopped doing it before you got home, or she might still be doing it when you got home.)
-----
I agree with them. However, I would also like to hear your opinions.
(Updated)
I now think that "Had been doing" implies that she was still doing it when you got home.
What do you think?
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