When learning English, the Past Perfect Continuous tense is considered one of the fundamental yet complex tenses that requires a solid understanding of grammar rules. In this guide, IDP will walk you through the definition, formula, usage, and practice questions to help you master this tense. And once you feel confident, don’t forget to register for your IELTS test with IDP.
1. What Is the Past Perfect Continuous Tense?
The Past Perfect Continuous tense is used to describe an action that was in progress before another action took place in the past. The first action continued for a period of time, regardless of whether the second action had ended.
Examples:
I had been eating lunch when the rain started.
They had been hiking for hours before I even arrived.
My doctor had been working all day by the time I came in for my appointment.
2. Structure of the Past Perfect Continuous Tense
Here are four basic sentence structures with examples to show how the tense is used in different contexts:
Sentence Type | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
Affirmative | S + had been + V-ing | The doctor asked whether any of the children had been presenting any unusual symptoms. |
Negative | S + had not been + V-ing | It later transpired that he had not been telling the truth. |
Yes/No Question | Had + S + been + V-ing? | Had she been stating her case too forcibly? |
WH-Question | WH-word + had + S + been + V-ing? | How long had it been raining before I woke up? |
3. Time Indicators for the Past Perfect Continuous Tense
To recognize the Past Perfect Continuous tense, look for time expressions such as:
For
Since
When
How long
Until then
By the time
Prior to that time
Before, after
4. Uses of the Past Perfect Continuous Tense
Use | Example |
Describes an ongoing action that happened before another action in the past | My father had been working as a businessman before he retired last year. |
Explains the cause of something in the past | You need to watch your weight – have you been overeating? |
Highlights the result of an action in the past | Yesterday evening, I was exhausted because I had been studying all day. |
Shows the duration of an action until a point in the past | Sarah had been studying English for months before she finally felt confident speaking with native speakers. |
Used in third conditional sentences | If I had been studying harder, I would have passed this exam. |
5. Past Perfect Continuous Exercises with Answers
Exercise 1: Put the verbs in the correct Past Perfect Continuous form
Hannah and James were very happy when I arrived, they (wait) ______ for me.
My husband said he (stop) ______ smoking for 5 months before we met.
My mother and I (talk) ______ on the line for 3 hours.
That rich man (pay) ______ for his new apartment in cash.
I (have) ______ dinner by the time my grandparents came.
It (rain) ______ for a month before the storm came last week.
Their team (run) ______ for about 30 minutes before the referee stopped them.
Answers:
had been waiting
had been stopping
had been talking
had been singing
had been having
had been raining
had been running
Exercise 2: Complete the sentences using Past Perfect Continuous
We were very tired when we arrived home. (we/work/hard all day) → We ___________________________.
Two friends came into the house. They had tennis and were very tired. (they/play/tennis) → They ___________________________.
She was disappointed to cancel her holiday. (she/look/forward to it) → She ___________________________.
Nam woke up in the night. He was frightened. (he/dream) → He ___________________________.
When we got home, Lisa was sitting by the TV. She had just turned it off. (she/watch/a film) → She ___________________________.
Answers:
had been working hard all day
had been playing tennis
had been looking forward to it
had been dreaming
had been watching a film
Exercise 3: Choose the correct answer
It was very noisy next door. Our neighbors __________ a party. A. have B. had C. were having D. had been having
Jenny and I went for a walk. I had trouble keeping up with her because she __________ so fast. A. was walking B. had walked C. have been walking D. walked
James was sitting on the ground. He was out of breath. He __________. A. runs B. run C. had been running D. had run
Jim was on the floor on his hands and knees. He __________ for his contact lens. A. looked B. was looking C. had been looked D. had been looking
When I arrived, John __________ for me. He was annoyed because he __________ for a long time. A. waited – waited B. was waiting – had been waiting C. was waiting – was waiting D. waited – had been waiting
Answers:
D
A
C
D
B
Master English Grammar with IDP
We hope this guide has helped you understand the Past Perfect Continuous tense and how to use it correctly in both practice exercises and real IELTS exams. If you want to assess your current English level, you can register for a free IELTS mock test at IDP or take a computer-delivered IELTS test from home if visiting a test center is not an option.
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