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carowyn_is_cool · 03-07-2008, 07:01 AM

One more for you guys:

I had been drinking for twenty years when I finally decided to get sober in 1972.

BUT the trick is, you need to convey the same meaning, i.e. that a habitual action had been taking place in the distant past (drinking) and it was interrupted by another action (getting sober).

Do this without the use of "to be."

Thanks again.

P.S. "I drank for twenty years and got sober in 1972" does NOT convey the same meaning nor is it clearer in meaning nor is it more expressive... So don't use that as your example.

03-07-2008, 07:01 AM	#2 (permalink)
carowyn_is_cool Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 3	One more for you guys: I had been drinking for twenty years when I finally decided to get sober in 1972. BUT the trick is, you need to convey the same meaning, i.e. that a habitual action had been taking place in the distant past (drinking) and it was interrupted by another action (getting sober). Do this without the use of "to be." Thanks again. P.S. "I drank for twenty years and got sober in 1972" does NOT convey the same meaning nor is it clearer in meaning nor is it more expressive... So don't use that as your example.