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.

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.”