Past Perfect Continuous

Past Perfect Continuous
The past perfect continuous (also called past perfect progressive) is a verb tense which is used
to show that an action started in the past and continued up to another point in the past.
Past Perfect Continuous Forms
The past perfect continuous is formed using had + been + present participle. Questions are
indicated by inverting the subject and had. Negatives are made with not
 Statement: You had been waiting there for more than two hours when she finally 1
arrived.
 Question: Had you been waiting there for more than two hours when she finally
arrived?
 Negative: You had not been waiting there for more than two hours when she finally
arrived.
Past Perfect Continuous Uses
USE 1 Duration Before Something in the Past
We use the past perfect continuous to show that something started in the past and continued up
until another time in the past. "For five minutes" and "for two weeks" are both durations which
can be used with the past perfect continuous. Notice that this is related to the present perfect
continuous; however, the duration does not continue until now, it stops before something else
in the past.
Examples:
 They had been talking for over an hour before Tony arrived.
 She had been working at that company for three years when it went out of business.
 How long had you been waiting to get on the bus?
 Mike wanted to sit down because he had been standing all day at work.
 James had been teaching at the university for more than a year before he left for Asia.
 A: How long had you been studying Turkish before you moved to Ankara?
B: I had not been studying Turkish very long.
USE 2 Cause of Something in the Past
Using the past perfect continuous before another action in the past is a good way to show
cause and effect.
Examples:
 Jason was tired because he had been jogging.

 Sam gained weight because he had been overeating.
 Betty failed the final test because she had not been attending class.
Past Continuous vs. Past Perfect Continuous
If you do not include a duration such as "for five minutes," "for two weeks" or "since Friday,"
many English speakers choose to use the past continuous rather than the past perfect
continuous. Be careful because this can change the meaning of the sentence. Past continuous
emphasizes interrupted actions, whereas past perfect continuous emphasizes a duration of 2
time before something in the past. Study the examples below to understand the difference.
Examples:
 He was tired because he was exercising so hard.

This sentence emphasizes that he was tired because he was exercising at that exact
moment.
 He was tired because he had been exercising so hard.
This sentence emphasizes that he was tired because he had been exercising over a
period of time. It is possible that he was still exercising at that moment OR that he had
just finished.
REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs / Mixed Verbs
It is important to remember that Non-continuous verbs cannot be used in any continuous

tenses. Also, certain non-continuous meanings for mixed verbs cannot be used in continuous
tenses. Instead of using past perfect continuous with these verbs, you must use past perfect.
Examples:
 The motorcycle had been belonging to George for years before Tina bought it. Not
Correct
 The motorcycle had belonged to George for years before Tina bought it. Correct
ADVERB PLACEMENT
The examples below show the placement for grammar adverbs such as: always, only, never,
ever, still, just, etc.
Examples:
 You had only been waiting there for a few minutes when she arrived.
 Had you only been waiting there for a few minutes when she arrived?
ACTIVE / PASSIVE
Examples:
 Chef Jones had been preparing the restaurant's fantastic dinners for two years before
he moved to Paris. Active
 The restaurant's fantastic dinners had been being prepared by Chef Jones for two
years before he moved to Paris. Passive
NOTE: Passive forms of the past perfect continuous are not common.
PRACTICE
Using the words in parentheses, complete the text below with the appropriate tenses,
I'm sorry I left without you last night, but I told you to meet me early because the show started
3
at 8:00. I (try) to get tickets for that play for months, and I didn't want to miss it.
By the time I finally left the coffee shop where we were supposed to meet, I (have)
five cups of coffee and I (wait) over an hour. I had to leave
because I (arrange) to meet Kathy in front of the theater.
When I arrived at the theater, Kathy (pick, already) up the tickets and she was
waiting for us near the entrance. She was really angry because she (wait) for
more than half an hour. She said she (give, almost) up and (go)
into the theater without us.
Kathy told me you (be) late several times in the past and that she would not
make plans with you again in the future. She mentioned that she (miss) several
movies because of your late arrivals. I think you owe her an apology. And in the future, I
suggest you be on time!

Past Perfect Continuous

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Past Perfect Continuous

Past Perfect Continuous Forms

Past Perfect Continuous Uses

USE 1 Duration Before Something in the Past

USE 2 Cause of Something in the Past

 Jason was tired because he had been jogging.

Past Continuous vs. Past Perfect Continuous

 He was tired because he was exercising so hard.

REMEMBER Non-Continuous Verbs / Mixed Verbs

It is important to remember that Non-continuous verbs cannot be used in any continuous

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