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What is the difference between: 1- I had been studying English when she arrived. 2- I was studying English when she arrived.

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Question added by Ahmed Gendy , English Senior Inspector , Ministry of Education (MoE)
Date Posted: 2014/01/21
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by Deleted user

In example1 you had been studying, past tense, indicating that you had finished by the time she arrived. In the second example you were still in the process of studying when she arrived, Again it is past tense, the rationale being that both examples apply to something which has already happened!

ie.1 - Finished studying, at that time.

    2 - Studying still in progress, at that time.

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