Past Perfect Continuous
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Past Perfect Continuous
2. Formation of the Past Perfect Continuous
Structure:
• Affirmative:
Subject + had been + verb (verb + ing)
• Negative:
Subject + had not been (hadn’t been) + verb (verb + ing)
• Interrogative (Question):
Had + subject + been + verb (verb + ing) + ?
Examples:
• Affirmative:
○ I had been working all day.
○ They had been waiting for hours.
• Negative:
○ She hadn’t been feeling well.
○ We hadn’t been playing that long.
• Interrogative:
○ Had you been studying before the test?
○ Had he been working here long?
3. The Verb Form
The main verb in the Past Perfect Continuous always uses the verb + ing form, e.g., working, studying, waiting.
Example:
• I had been reading the book for two hours when she called.
Example:
• They had been traveling for days before they finally arrived.
Example:
• She was tired because she had been running.
Example:
• He had been working on the project but stopped when I arrived.
5. Time Expressions Usually Used
• for + a period of time (e.g., for two hours, for a week)
• since + a point in time (e.g., since Monday, since 9 a.m.)
• all day/night
• how long
Examples:
• They had been waiting for an hour.
• She had been working since morning.
6. Practical Examples in Context
1. Narrative:
“She had been studying for two hours when her friends arrived.”
2. Conversation:
• A: What had you been doing before I called?
• B: I had been cleaning the house all morning.
3. Storytelling:
“He was tired because he had been running for over an hour.”