Past perfect continuous

​Past perfect continuous

The past perfect continuous is formed using had + been + verb (ing)

Questions are indicated by inverting the subject and had.

Negatives are made with not

​How do we form it?

• ​​Statement: You had been waiting there for more than two hours when she finally 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.

Uses

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.

• They had been talking for over an hour before Tony arrived.

• Britney 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?

• Mercedes wanted to sit down because she had been standing all day at work.

​Examples

Betty failed the final test because she had not been attending class.

Sam gained weight because he had been overeating

​Example

Using the past perfect continuous before another action in the past is a good way to show cause and effect.

Cause of something in the past

Draw

How are you feeling now?

​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 time before something in the past.

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.

He was tired because he was exercising so hard.

This sentence emphasizes that he was tired because he was exercising at that exact moment.

Examples

Multiple Choice

POP QUESTION: When we use past perfect continuous is for ...

• An action that started and finished in the past

• An action that started in the past and continue in the present

• One action after other in the past

• Something that started in the past and continued up until another time in the past.

Adverb placement

• 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?

The examples show the placement for grammar adverbs such as always, only, never, ever, still, just, etc.

Poll

Did you like the presentation?

• Yes 😀

• No ☹️

• It could be better🥺

• I'm confused 😵‍💫