what you had been doing vs what you had been

The phrase 'what you had been doing' is correct, while 'what you had been' is incomplete and incorrect. The first phrase is a complete sentence that asks about a specific action in the past, while the second one lacks a verb and does not convey a complete thought.

Last updated: March 15, 2024 • 1176 views

what you had been doing

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to inquire about a specific action that was ongoing in the past.

This phrase is used to ask someone about a continuous action that was happening in the past. It is typically followed by a question mark to indicate an interrogative sentence.

Examples:

Can you tell me what you had been doing before I arrived?
I wonder what you had been doing all day.
Do you remember what you had been doing when the power went out?
She asked him what he had been doing in the garden.
I'm curious about what you had been doing in the kitchen.

Show examples from the web [+]

Feb 3, 2015 ... AARP The Magazine is the world's largest circulation magazine and the definitive lifestyle publication for AARP's nearly 40 million members ...
Apr 17, 2015 ... 15d ago · Embed; Block user or report. he couldn't stop thinking about what you had been doing last night. 10 Likes 2 Revines 7 Comments. 0.
Jan 5, 2015 ... Do you think you will realize someday; what you had been doing is a heartless act? 10. Don't you think life is too short to play games with love ...
Apr 28, 2015 ... ... so that by sophomore year, you kind of knew what you were doing (or at least you were doing what you had been doing before, but better).

what you had been

This phrase is incorrect as it is incomplete and lacks a verb to form a complete sentence.

This phrase cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. It needs a verb to convey a clear meaning or context.

Show examples from the web [+]

... it might appear to others that what you were or might have been was not otherwise than what you had been would have appeared to them to be otherwise ."'
Aug 13, 2013 ... ... to others that what you were or might have been was not otherwise than what you had been would have appeared to them to be otherwise."
... it might appear to others that what you were or might have been was not otherwise than what you had been would have appeared to them to be otherwise ."'.
... it might appear to others that what you were or might have been was not otherwise than what you had been would have appeared to them to be otherwise .”

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what you had been doing vs what you had been