Hello!

Which one is correct?
1)My father had been working in that hospital five years. Then he retired.
2)My father worked in that hospital five years. Then he retired.

Thanks!

The "past perfect progressive tense" (as I like to call it) is used to show the end of an on-going action that took place in the past. For example:

- She had been painting the door before the dog scratched it.

- The jury had been considering its verdict for several hours when the judge effectively ordered them to find Jones guilty.


Your first example fits perfectly with this description; therefore, without further context this is my preferred answer of the two.