Alphonse tells me:

“Scott said he had been studying Greek for five years.”

I am trying to imagine what Scott could actually have told Alphonse. I can come up with two situations:

a) Scott: “I studied Greek for 5 years.”

 

b) Scott: “I have been studying Greek for 5 years.”

Alphonse tells me:

“Scott said he had been studying Greek for five years.”

I am trying to imagine what Scott could actually have told Alphonse. I can come up with two situations:

a) Scott: “I studied Greek for 5 years.”

b) Scott: “I have been studying Greek for 5 years.”

Someone says to me:

"Scott said he had been studying Greek for five years."

I am trying to imagine what Scott could actually have told him. I can come up with two situations:

a) Scott: "I studied Greek for 5 years."

b) Scott: "I have been studying Greek for 5 years."

Alphonse tells me:

“Scott said he had been studying Greek for five years.”

I am trying to imagine what Scott could actually have told Alphonse. I can come up with two situations:

a) Scott: “I studied Greek for 5 years.”

b) Scott: “I have been studying Greek for 5 years.”