Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

Wojtek1 · Joined: 29 Dec 2005 Posts: 17 Location: Poland

"That was a part of a BBC report from Tom Brooks twenty-five years ago. In fact, John Lennon was in such a very bad state � he was so ill � that he actually died from his gunshot wounds. Of course, John Lennon had been a member of the very popular 1960s British pop band, The Beatles."

I have a question, can we use "John Lennon was a member" insted of "John lennon had been ..." ?

lotus · Joined: 25 Jan 2004 Posts: 862

Hi Wojtek1,

QUOTE: "That was a part of a BBC report from Tom Brooks twenty-five years ago. In fact, John Lennon was in such a very bad state � he was so ill � that he actually died from his gunshot wounds. Of course, John Lennon had been a member of the very popular 1960s British pop band, The Beatles."

"Had been a member" is more correct. If he had used "was a member", the sentence would not have the same impact.

"Was a member" implies that Lennon was simply a member of the Beatles. "Had been a member" implies that Lennon had been a member of the Beatles for some time - as well, it implies that the Beatles at some time had disbanded.

--lotus