have been looking into this vs had been looking into this

Both phrases are correct, but they are used in different contexts. "Have been looking into this" is used when referring to an ongoing action or investigation in the present or recent past. "Had been looking into this" is used when referring to a past action or investigation that was ongoing before another event in the past.

Last updated: March 23, 2024 • 1617 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used when referring to an ongoing action or investigation in the present or recent past.

"have been looking into this "

This phrase is used to indicate that someone has been examining or investigating something continuously up to the present moment or recently.

Examples:

I have been looking into this issue for the past week.
They have been looking into the company's financial records.
She has been looking into possible solutions to the problem.
We have been looking into the reasons for the delay.
The team has been looking into new technologies for the project.

Show examples from the web [+]

With regard to the possibility of overfishing around the peripheral regions, we have been looking into this and the Council has just adopted a regulation on IUU fishing, with the European Parliament's blessing.
I have been looking into how the mercenaries discovered the route through the forest.
Nina, Roe, and Mike have been looking into Rhodes.
We have been looking into the problems in Galicia very carefully and are continuing to do so.
Well, I have been looking into Tommy Tolliver, seeing if I can figure out why Cain went to the trouble of springing him.
'Cause I have been looking into the NORAD satellites and the building specs.
So the team have been looking into the dead driver's phone records.
This is something that they have been looking into for some time.
In the last few days, investigators have been looking into what - most probably human error - caused the tragedy.
As your rapporteur, I have been looking into what we said in the discharge report for 1999.
That is why we have been looking into ways of how to make Member States publish these figures.
I have been looking for someone who understands frequencies.
Search parties have been looking all night.
When we should have been looking at victims of his cyber cases.
But I have been looking at flights.
The geeks have been looking at the browser history on Shearwood's laptop.
I have been looking for you everywhere.
Says her parents have been looking for her.
I have been looking for you, Alison.
Melody and I have been looking for you guys everywhere.

Alternatives:

I am looking into this.
I have looked into this.
I will be looking into this.
I had looked into this.
I will have been looking into this.

This phrase is correct and commonly used when referring to a past action or investigation that was ongoing before another event in the past.

"had been looking into this "

This phrase is used to indicate that someone had been examining or investigating something continuously up to a point in the past, before another event occurred.

Examples:

They had been looking into the matter before the new evidence emerged.
She had been looking into potential suppliers for the project before the budget was cut.
He had been looking into the issue for months before he found a solution.
The team had been looking into the problem for weeks before they discovered the cause.
I had been looking into this case for a while before I made a decision.

Show examples from the web [+]

At the meeting, the preliminary draft proposal and the conclusions of the different seminars and working groups that had been looking into these matters were put to open debate.
And the whole town had been looking for us.
He says his dad HAD been looking at some computer disks.
Arlene had been looking for the objects for years.
I found the very thing you had been looking for.
Tom found the key he had been looking for.
FSO had been looking for a strategic investor since its difficulties began.
Most people had been looking at 18 hertz, but I experimented with 19.
We met 'em outside the hospital so we could say that... Jenny had been looking after him when he took ill.
But he had been looking for the Author for years.
[Narrator] And Marta realized it was Michael, not Gob... who had everything she had been looking for in a man.
Maybe he didn't know it, but had been looking for his whole life.
Since our eyes met, I knew I had been looking for her.
We had been looking for a solution to have them leave the country during the past three months.
Okay, so I've been looking into Andrea Hicks.
You've been looking into the circumstances around Harris Ryland's recent release.
I've been looking into Johnson and Costello's credit card purchases.
I've been looking into James for some time now.
I've been looking into this missing kid on my own time.
I've been looking into major financial transactions.

Alternatives:

I had looked into this.
I had been investigating this.
I had been examining this.
I had been researching this.
I had been delving into this.

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have been looking into this vs had been looking into this