English Grammar: Past perfect continuous tense

 

Past perfect continuous tense:

Formula:

Subject+had been+Verb(ing) +Rest of the Sentence

Structure:

1. Subject: The person or thing performing the action.

2. Had been: The past perfect form of "to be" (had been).

3. Verb-ing (Present Participle): The main verb in its present participle form (verb + -ing).

4. Rest of the Sentence: Additional information about the action.

Examples:

1. They (subject) had been waiting (had been + waiting) for hours (rest of the sentence).

   • They had been waiting for hours.

2. She (subject) had been studying (had been + studying) all night (rest of the sentence).

   • She had been studying all night.

3. We (subject) had been working (had been + working) on the project since morning (rest of the sentence).

   • We had been working on the project since morning.

Fill-in-the-blank sentences in the past perfect continuous affirmative form, with the answers provided after all questions:

1. By the time we arrived, she __________ (wait) for two hours.

2. They were tired because they __________ (work) all day.

3. He looked exhausted because he __________ (run) for an hour.

4. She had a sore throat because she __________ (sing) all night.

5. The garden was beautiful because they __________ (water) it regularly.

6. By the time I got there, they __________ (play) football for three hours.

7. She understood the topic well because she __________ (study) it extensively.

8. He was out of breath because he __________ (run) for so long.

9. The cake was delicious because she __________ (bake) it with care.

10. By the time they left, we __________ (discuss) the issue for hours.

Answers:

1. By the time we arrived, she had been waiting for two hours.

2. They were tired because they had been working all day.

3. He looked exhausted because he had been running for an hour.

4. She had a sore throat because she had been singing all night.

5. The garden was beautiful because they had been watering it regularly.

6. By the time I got there, they had been playing football for three hours.

7. She understood the topic well because she had been studying it extensively.

8. He was out of breath because he had been running for so long.

9. The cake was delicious because she had been baking it with care.

10. By the time they left, we had been discussing the issue for hours.

Negative Form:

Subject+had not been+Verb(ing) +Rest of the Sentence

Examples:

1. He (subject) had not been sleeping (had not been + sleeping) well (rest of the sentence).

   • He had not been sleeping well.

2. They (subject) hadn't been practicing (had not been + practicing) for long (rest of the sentence).

   • They hadn't been practicing for long.

Fill-in-the-blank sentences in the past perfect continuous negative form, with the answers provided after all questions:

1. She ________ (not study) for the exam before she failed it.

2. They ________ (not play) basketball before they broke their leg.

3. He ________ (not eat) before he felt sick.

4. We ________ (not wait) for her when she arrived.

5. I ________ (not work) on the project before it was due.

6. She ________ (not sleep) well before the exam.

7. They ________ (not practice) for the concert before they performed.

8. You ________ (not clean) the house before the guests came.

9. He ________ (not exercise) regularly before he got injured.

10. We ________ (not talk) about the issue before it became a problem.

Answers:

1. She had not been studying for the exam before she failed it.

2. They had not been playing basketball before they broke their leg.

3. He had not been eating before he felt sick.

4. We had not been waiting for her when she arrived.

5. I had not been working on the project before it was due.

6. She had not been sleeping well before the exam.

7. They had not been practicing for the concert before they performed.

8. You had not been cleaning the house before the guests came.

9. He had not been exercising regularly before he got injured.

10. We had not been talking about the issue before it became a problem.

Interrogative Form:

To form the interrogative past perfect continuous, place "had" before the subject.

Had+subject+been+Verb-ing (present participle)+Rest of the Sentence ?

Examples:

1. Had (had) she (subject) been waiting (been + waiting) for long? (rest of the sentence)

   • Had she been waiting for long?

2. Had (had) they (subject) been practicing (been + practicing) before the competition? (rest of the sentence)

   • Had they been practicing before the competition?

Fill-in-the-blank sentences in the past perfect continuous interrogative form, with the verbs provided in brackets:

1. ________ she ________ (wait) for a long time before they arrived?

2. ________ they ________ (study) before the exam?

3. ________ he ________ (work) on the project all day?

4. ________ you ________ (play) football before it started raining?

5. ________ we ________ (travel) for hours before we reached our destination?

6. ________ she ________ (practice) singing before the concert?

7. ________ he ________ (learn) Spanish before he moved to Spain?

8. ________ they ________ (live) in that house for many years before they moved?

9. ________ you ________ (wait) for me before you left?

10. ________ we ________ (talk) for a while before he called?

Answers:

1. Had she been waiting for a long time before they arrived?

2. Had they been studying before the exam?

3. Had he been working on the project all day?

4. Had you been playing football before it started raining?

5. Had we been traveling for hours before we reached our destination?

6. Had she been practicing singing before the concert?

7. Had he been learning Spanish before he moved to Spain?

8. Had they been living in that house for many years before they moved?

9. Had you been waiting for me before you left?

10. Had we been talking for a while before he called?