17. Understanding “Had Been”
Siya: Hey Raj, I was thinking about our last camping trip. Do you remember how long we had been hiking before we reached the summit?
Raj: Oh yeah, it felt like ages! I think we had been hiking for about three hours before we finally made it to the top.
Siya: Three hours? It felt like forever! And do you remember how long we had been sitting by the campfire before we saw the shooting stars?
Raj: Hmm, I think we had been sitting by the campfire for at least an hour before we spotted the shooting stars streaking across the sky.
Siya: It was worth the wait though, those shooting stars were incredible! And what about the time we had been roasting marshmallows before we ran out?
Raj: I think we had been roasting marshmallows for about twenty minutes before we realized we had finished the entire bag!
Siya: Haha, I guess we were too busy enjoying them to keep track of how many we were eating. Thanks for reminiscing with me, Raj!
Raj: No problem, Siya! It’s always fun to look back on our camping adventures.
Difficult words, phrasal verbs, idioms from the conversation:
- Summit: The highest point of a mountain. Example: We finally reached the summit of the mountain after hours of hiking.
- Streaking: Moving quickly in a straight line. Example: The shooting stars were streaking across the sky, leaving a trail of light behind them.
- Worth the wait: Deserving of the time spent waiting. Example: The delicious meal at the restaurant was definitely worth the wait.
- Reminiscing: Thinking or talking about past experiences. Example: We spent the evening reminiscing about our childhood adventures.
- Keep track of: To monitor or pay attention to something. Example: I use a planner to keep track of my appointments and deadlines.
- Hiking: Walking in nature, typically on trails or paths. Example: We went hiking in the mountains and enjoyed the beautiful scenery.
- Campfire: A fire made outdoors, often for warmth or cooking while camping. Example: We gathered around the campfire and roasted marshmallows.
- Roasting marshmallows: Cooking marshmallows over a fire until they become golden brown and soft. Example: We sat by the campfire, roasting marshmallows and telling stories.
Phrasal verb:
Look back on – To remember or reflect on past events. Example: Every year, I like to look back on my achievements and set new goals for the future.
Idiom:
No problem – Used to say that something was easy or not a difficulty. Example: When my friend asked for help, I said, “Sure, no problem!”
We use ‘had been’ when we want to talk about something that happened before another thing in the past. It’s like saying something happened before another thing happened. For example, if you say, ‘She had been to the store before she came home,’ it means she went to the store before she came back home.”
Here are some more examples:
- “I had been studying for my test before I went to bed.”
- “They had been playing outside all day before it started raining.”
- “She had been cooking dinner when the guests arrived.”
- “He had been practicing piano for hours before the concert.”
- “We had been waiting for the bus for a long time before it finally arrived.”
These sentences show that the action described with “had been” happened before something else in the past.
Assignment:
Title: Exploring Nature: Camping Adventures Recap Brief: Listen to the conversation between Siya and Raj about their camping trip adventures. Then, record your own camping adventure experience, focusing on the activities you did and how long you spent doing them. Instructions:
- Listen to the conversation between Siya and Raj carefully.
- Pay attention to the activities they mention and the time durations associated with them.
- Think about your own camping or outdoor adventure experience.
- Record a conversation or monologue describing your camping adventure, including the activities you did and how long you spent doing them.
- Make sure to mention activities like hiking, sitting by the campfire, roasting marshmallows, and any other memorable experiences you had.
- Use phrases like “We had been…” to talk about the duration of activities, just like Siya and Raj did.
- After recording, listen to your answer to check for clarity and accuracy.
- Reflect on your camping adventure and think about any improvements or changes you’d make for your next outdoor trip.