Example sentences of "had [been] [v-ing] [to-vb] [adj] [noun sg] " in BNC.
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1 | He had been trying to put inorganic chemistry into an intelligible form for his students at the University of St Petersburg , when ( in common with various contemporaries in various countries ) he realized that if the elements are set out in order of increasing atomic weight , they display periodicity : similar elements recur at regular intervals . |
2 | Although a number of influential parties had been trying to have New Year 's flay changed from the old style 13th of the month to 1st , the majority of the natives were loath to change and both days were partially observed . |
3 | The Frasque had been scheming to sponsor civil war in the system , setting world against world . |
4 | The Location of Offices Bureau , which for many years had been attempting to move commercial development out of London , was given the task of promoting office employment within the cities , including London itself . |
5 | DPP ( 1954 ) D , who was sexually impotent , was taunted about his impotence and kicked in the groin by a prostitute with whom he had been attempting to have sexual intercourse , whereupon he lost self-control and killed her . |
6 | ‘ And then Crom Croich eats the hearts , ’ said the soldier , and Cathbad , who had been very busy all afternoon supervising the skinning and jointing of an ox and had been planning to serve braised ox heart for tomorrow 's midday meal , turned quite green and tried to remember if they had any salted pig left . |