Here's why:
* Helping verbs work with main verbs to form verb phrases, indicating tense, mood, or voice.
* Linking verbs connect the subject to a subject complement (a word or phrase that describes or identifies the subject).
In "had been," "had" is the helping verb, and "been" is the past participle of the verb "to be." Together, they form a verb phrase that indicates past perfect tense.
Example:
"She had been happy before the news arrived."
In this sentence, "had been" indicates the past perfect tense, describing an action completed before another past action (the news arriving).
Let me know if you have any other questions about verbs!