PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

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PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

The perfect continuous past in English corresponds to the pluperfect of Spanish in which the indicative of the verb "estar" is used and the verb + ing. In general, we use it for actions in the process of realization in the past before another action occurred.

Grammatical Rules 

Form 

As in the present continuous perfect, the perfect continuous past is formed with the auxiliary verb "to have", "been" and the verb + ing.

Sujeto	Auxiliar	Verbo+ing
I, you, he, she, it, we, they	had been	studying, working, traveling…

Structure 

1. Affirmative Sentences 

Sujeto + “had” + “been” + verbo+ing…

Example: 

I had [I’d] been studying English for 2 years when I went to London.

Lindsay had been working at the store since 2005 when it closed.

They were surprised when the airline lost their baggage as they had [they’d] been traveling for weeks without a problem.

2. Negative Sentences 

Sujeto + “had” + “not” + “been” + verbo+ing…

Example:

I had not [hadn’t] been studying English long when I went to London.

Lindsay had not [hadn’t] been working at the store for long when it closed.

They had not [hadn’t] been traveling long before they had their first problem.

3. Interrogative Sentences

“Had” + sujeto + “been” + verbo+ing?

Example: 

Had you been studying English for a long time before you went to London?

Had Lindsay been working at the store for a long time when it closed?

Had they been traveling for a long time when the airline lost their luggage? Uses  1. We use the continuous perfect past to refer to something we had been doing (in process) when another action interrupted it. The continuous perfect past is used for action in process and the past simple for interrupting action. When we refer to something that we have been doing over a period of time, therefore, we usually use the prepositions of "for" or "since" time. Example: I’d been working for hours when I fell asleep at my desk. Frank bought a new car. He’d been looking for one since last year. We’d been arguing for days when Elizabeth found a resolution. 2. It is used to demonstrate cause and effect in the past. Example: She was tired because she’d been working too much. They were angry because they’d been waiting for me for hours. Exercise on Past Perfect  Put the verbs into the correct form (past perfect). We (sleep)  for 12 hours when he woke us up. They (wait)  at the station for 90 minutes when the train finally arrived. We (look for)  her ring for two hours and then we found it in the bathroom. I (not / walk)  for a long time, when it suddenly began to rain. How long (learn / she)  English before she went to London? Frank Sinatra caught the flu because he (sing)  in the rain too long. He (drive)  less than an hour when he ran out of petrol. They were very tired in the evening because they (help)  on the farm all day. I (not / work)  all day; so I wasn't tired and went to the disco at night. They (cycle)  all day so their legs were sore in the evening. Taken from: https://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/past-perfect-progressive/exercises https://www.ef.com.co/recursos-aprender-ingles/gramatica-inglesa/past-perfect-continuous/ Today's lesson is by Stephanie.