Please help me to understand questions using * had been* at the start.
If i want to as question about past the can i ask this way?
I am aware about uses of were and was that it use to ask about status of past.
Below sentences are in perfect tense give clear picture of time. Past time before any other thing happen.
Had you been to Australia?
Had she been upset?
Had you been to school?
Had you been hospitalized?
Had he been arrested by police?
If above sentences are incorrect the how below sentence are correct when we ask about present tense.
Have you been to Australia?
Has she been upset?
Have you been to school?
Have you been hospitalized?
Has he been arrested by police?
Best Answer
Both sets of sentences are correct, the difference between them is the meaning.
Now this difference is a little hard to explain, but I will do my best.
The verb 'to have' conjugates in the present as 'have' or 'has':
In the past, it conjugates as 'had' for everyone.
Now when it comes to questions starting with 'to have', asking if someone has done something, they are asking about one of two situations, each with it's own meaning.
When you use 'had' (past tense), then you are asking about any time up to a specific moment in the past.
Meaning "At any time up until that moment in the past, did you run a marathon?", or "Did you run a marathon by then?"
When you use 'have' or 'have', you're asking about any moment up until right now.
Meaning "At any time up until now, did you run a marathon?", or "Did you run a marathon by now?"
The difference between the two is the limit of the time asked about. When you ask using the past tense of 'to have', then the limit is referring to a specific moment in the past. When you ask using the present tense of 'to have', then the limit is this very moment, now.
I hope that helps!