Mr. Louise was asking after the health of my brother who has been suffering from typhoid for the past few weeks.
I have a question about the bold part. Should it be has been or had been?
Case 1: When I'm telling this, it has been a few weeks of my brother's illness and Mr. Louise asked about him sometime during that period. So it would be has been suffering.
Case 2: Mr. Louise asked after his health when it was already few weeks past since the beginning of the ailment. So in this case it should be had been suffering.
Am I thinking right or not?
Best Answer
If your brother continues to suffer, has been suffering.
If your brother is cured, or if he died, had been suffering.