If you’re an English learner, you might be familiar with tenses such as present simple or past simple.
But what about the past perfect continuous tense?
Don’t sweat it if the tense is throwing you off.
I totally get it! And I’m here to help.
I will make it easier for you to understand.
So, get ready to become a pro at using the past perfect continuous tense!
Further reading:
- Present Continuous
- Present Perfect
- Present Perfect Continuous
- Past Continuous
- Simple Future
- Future Continuous
- Future Perfect
- Future Perfect Continuous
What Is The Past Perfect Continuous Tense?
The past perfect continuous tense is used to describe an action that started in the past, continued for a specific period, and was still ongoing at a certain point in the past.
Past Perfect Continuous Tense Formula
| Type | Formula | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Positive | Subject + had been + verb+ing | I had been studying English for two hours before I decided to take a break. |
| Negative | Subject + hadn’t been / had not been + verb+ing | I hadn’t been studying French for very long. |
When To Use The Past Perfect Continuous Tense
| # | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Duration before something in the past | They had been rehearsing for months before the opening night. |
| 2 | Cause of something in the past | She was out of breath because she had been running. |
| 3 | Reported speech | She said she had been waiting for him for two hours. |
| 4 | Hypothetical situations in the past | If he had been studying harder, he would have passed the exam. |
Past Perfect Continuous Tense Sentences
1. I had been watching TV for two hours before my friends came over.
In this example, the action of watching TV started in the past and continued until the friends arrived.
2. She had been working in that company for five years before she decided to quit.
This sentence shows that the action of working in the company started in the past and continued for a specific period before the decision to quit.
3. They had been waiting for the bus for an hour before it finally arrived.
This sentence demonstrates the action of waiting for the bus that started in the past and continued until the bus arrived.
Past Perfect Vs. Past Perfect Continuous
Both tenses are used to talk about actions that happened before a certain time in the past, but they have some differences.
Here’s a table summarizing the main differences between the past perfect and past perfect continuous tense:
| Past Perfect | Past Perfect Continuous |
|---|---|
| Describes a completed action that happened before another past action or time | Describes an action that started in the past, continued for a specific period of time, and was still ongoing at a certain point in the past |
| Formed using “had” + past participle of the main verb | Formed using “had been” + verb+ing |
| Example: I had finished my homework before I went to bed. | Example: I had been studying for two hours before I decided to take a break. |
Past Continuous Vs. Past Perfect Continuous
When it comes to past tense verbs, the past continuous and past perfect continuous tenses can be easily confused. The table below summarizes the key differences between these two tenses to help you understand when to use each one.
| Past Continuous | Past Perfect Continuous |
|---|---|
| Describes an action that was ongoing or in progress at a specific point in the past | Describes an ongoing action in the past that started before a certain time and continued until that time or a later time in the past |
| The focus is on the ongoing action, which may have been interrupted by another action that occurred during that time. | The focus is on the duration of the action leading up to a specific point in time in the past. |
| Formed using “was/were” + verb+ing | Formed using “had been” + verb+ing |
| Example: I was watching TV when she arrived. | Example: I had been watching TV for two hours before she arrived. |
Past Perfect Continuous Tense Worksheet
Instructions: Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the past perfect continuous tense.
a. By the time I got home, he ___________ (watch) TV for three hours.
b. She ___________ (study) for her exam all morning before taking a break.
c. They ___________ (work) on the project for weeks before finally finishing it.
d. They _________ (wait) at the airport for hours before their flight was canceled.
e. Sarah _________ (study) all day, so she was exhausted by evening.
Answers:
a. had been watching
b. had been studying
c. had been working
d. had been waiting
e. had been studying
Past Perfect Continuous Tense: FAQ
What Are 10 Examples Of Past Perfect Continuous Tense?
1. I had been waiting for the bus for 30 minutes before it finally arrived.
2. They had been studying English for two years when they moved to an English-speaking country.
3. She had been playing truth or dare with her friends for hours before she finally went to bed.
4. We had been living in that apartment for five years when the landlord decided to sell it.
5. I had been practicing the tongue twister for hours before I could say it without stumbling.
6. She had been running for 10 miles when she twisted her ankle.
7. They had been rehearsing for the play for months before the opening night.
8. He had been taking guitar lessons for a year when he decided to join a band.
9. We had been saving money for our trip for a long time before we finally had enough.
10. She had been looking for a new job for six months when she finally got an offer.
Wrapping Up
That’s all for now!
Whether you’re telling a story or describing a situation, using the past perfect continuous tense can help you express the duration of an action and when it took place.
Keep practicing and using this tense in your speaking and writing, and you’ll become more confident in your English skills.
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