Past Continuous, Past Perfect and Past Perfect Continuous

Correct or Incorrect?

By the time they arrived, we were playing tennis.

• Correct!

• Incorrect!

Answer explanation

By the time they arrived, we had been playing tennis.

"By the time" is a time expression used to talk about the duration of a period of time. Past continuous does not focus on time.

Liam and Noel _____________ (hike) near a volcano when it started to snow. They arrived at base camp two hours late.

• had been hiking

• were hiking

Answer explanation

Always check the context when in doubt.

The snow affected Liam and Noel's hike directly. Interruption = Past Continuous.

Bonnie __________ (take) pictures of her cat when she saw a ghostly figure.

• was taking

• had been taking

Answer explanation

One long action is interrupted by a short action. Has anyone seen Bonnie today, though?

Charlotte __________ (do) Keto diet for a couple of months then and she ________ (lose) 9 kilos.

• had been doing / had been losing

• had been doing / had lost

• was doing / had lost

• was doing / had been losing

Answer explanation

Losing 9 kilos is a completed action in this sentence. The Keto diet was still going at the time I was telling the story.

Tris ___________ (study) all night, so they __________ (be) well-prepared for the test.

• was studying / were

• had been studying / had been

• had been studying / were

• was studying / were being

Answer explanation

Cause and Effect = Past Perfect Continuous.

Matt ________ (promise) to take Clarissa to the movies the entire week.

• had been promising

• had promised

Answer explanation

Gotcha! Although the importance here is in the extension of time, Stative Verbs rules overrule everything else.

Sorry I missed your performance, I ___________ (have) a heated argument with a very chit-chatty person behind me.

• was having

• had been having

• had had

Answer explanation

We use Past Continuous to talk about something that happened at a very specific time, such as a performance.

The moment the food arrived, they _______ (get ready) to leave.

• were getting ready

• had been getting ready

Answer explanation

Thank God the food arrived! The focus is on action and not everything preceding it. Past Continuous.

Correct or Incorrect?

Emily and Allie had traveled for days before they reached their destination yesterday.

• Correct

• Incorrect

Answer explanation

Unfinished vs. Finished. They cannot finish traveling because the haven't reached their destination yet.

Bayley _________ (read) 4 chapters of the book by 8 o'clock.

• had read

• had been reading

Answer explanation

Unfinished vs. Finished. Always remember.